Over 700 people die each year from falling down stairs in the U.K.

maman

Fortunately, I'm still agile enough to get up and down the stairs easily provided I'm careful when carrying laundry, wearing a long dress and am careful negotiating any obstacles. 

However, having read the thread I thought I'd try the crawling method! 😁

I found that, as I'm quite tall, I need to be several steps down before I can easily get into the right position. (To drop from standing at the top of the stairs wouldn't make sense as if a person was fit enough to do that they wouldn't bother to crawl). 

I crawled down a few steps then my feet reached the hall so I could get up without crawling the last few steps. 

I think, when I need to, I'll stick with the handrail as it seemed a bit of a faff for about a third of the staircase. 😁

Slinky

I fell down the stairs a couple of years ago. Came out of the bathroom in the night without the lights on and forgot to take two steps to the right. Must have caught my shoulder on the wall as I fell as I ended up landing very heavily on my upper back, so hard I broke one of the mahogany steps out of the open tread staircase. Cracked two vertebrae and the back of my skull.  I think if I'd gone head first I'd be one of the statistics as I'd probably have broken my neck. Fortunately as it was pitch black I have no visual memory of the incident.

We now have motion activated lights on the landing, and a new ensuite bathroom to avoid a repeat. Also new stairs with carpet on.

RHemmings

It's quite interesting looking at comparative risks for various things. Thousands of people die through falls in the UK, but only about 35 a year die from wildlife in Australia. But, about 45,000 a year die because of guns in the US. The impression I get is that the perceived risk of these (admittedly not normalised for population) is way different from the actual risks. 

I do find myself slipping on stairs or stumbling a bit, and I'm not yet frail. I can see it being a sizeable risk. 

Spikeygran

I think the best way forward is to practice sensible methods several years before your balance gets a bit less reliable, so they are familiar, but dont get in the way of normal living.

I have a routine stepping out of the bath, always a slip mat in the bath, I dont let go of the grab handle until both feet are firmly on the ground.

Always have one hand on a rail on the way down the stairs, and I throw bedding etc down rather than struggle down with a pile I cant see above.  I have a  bag and tub, so I can carry stuff up and down keeping a hand free for the rail. Theres a nightlight on so never use the stairs in total darkness, with pets in the house I think thats a necessity.

I dont get on ladders when I'm on my own, I have a grab stick to avoid unecessary over reaching.  I found I was struggling with a full kettle, so swapped to a hot cup machine.  I'm still evolving, if I find something becoming awkward or it's caused a problem, I change or move it. Weve done the same in the garden, if something caused a trip or was getting dodgy,  weve sorted it while we are still able.

I recently had to add bumper corners to the coffee table, not for me but my OH who is an awful lot fitter than me, but is not spacially aware when otherwise occupied.  I got fed up with patching up his shins, but in truth its saved my leg a few times.

silvercar

I’ll move this to the health board. 

Murphybear

I walk down the stairs backwards, holding onto the rail.  I’ve done this since having a knee replacement.  I had badly damaged my knee before that and can’t bend it properly.  This makes it difficult to walk down stairs.  

Piglover

I fell down the stairs and broke my back and shoulder. This was due to being half asleep during the night returning from bathroom and not turning the light on, I thought I was walking into my bedroom but it was the stairway. Steep stairs in a Victorian house and landing on very hard Victorian tiles. Be careful everyone.

theoldmiser

So basically, carry on doing what you're doing, even if it kills you, rather than dare to do something different. You really couldn't make it up. 

For those who are too frail to crouch down onto the ground at the top of the stairs, just hold onto the bannister as you slowly walk down the first four or five steps, then you can lower your left or right hand (whichever one isn't holding onto the bannister) onto the landing, then lower the other hand down onto the landing. 

For frail people going UP the stairs, it's just as easy, you put one hand on the bannister and lower your other hand onto the fourth or fifth step (or whichever is nearest to your hand) and lower the other hand down, then crawl up the stairs, and when your hands reach the landing, you lift one up onto the bannister, then lift the other one up, and pull yourself upright as you walk up to the landing.

But if you are THAT frail then you shouldn't be walking up or down the stairs at all, you should be using a stairlift. 

As far as 'there might be things on the stairs which you can't see because you're going down backward', I suggest you might look at the stairs first, while you are on the landing... 

All the other reasons given for not doing my method are equally as unconvincing. No skin off my nose! My wife and I both go up and down our (carpeted) stairs on our hands and feet, and we know we will never fall and hurt ourselves. 

Pollycat

theoldmiser said:

So basically, carry on doing what you're doing, even if it kills you, rather than dare to do something different. You really couldn't make it up. 

For those who are too frail to crouch down onto the ground at the top of the stairs, just hold onto the bannister as you slowly walk down the first four or five steps, then you can lower your left or right hand (whichever one isn't holding onto the bannister) onto the landing, then lower the other hand down onto the landing. 

For frail people going UP the stairs, it's just as easy, you put one hand on the bannister and lower your other hand onto the fourth or fifth step (or whichever is nearest to your hand) and lower the other hand down, then crawl up the stairs, and when your hands reach the landing, you lift one up onto the bannister, then lift the other one up, and pull yourself upright as you walk up to the landing.

But if you are THAT frail then you shouldn't be walking up or down the stairs at all, you should be using a stairlift. 

As far as 'there might be things on the stairs which you can't see because you're going down backward', I suggest you might look at the stairs first, while you are on the landing... 

All the other reasons given for not doing my method are equally as unconvincing. No skin off my nose! My wife and I both go up and down our (carpeted) stairs on our hands and feet, and we know we will never fall and hurt ourselves. 

Look.
You've given advice based on what you think is the best way to go up and down stairs.

Don't berate people because they don't agree with you.

I'll go up and down stairs the way I want.
Regardless of your advice.

GDB2222

I know a lady who went up and down the stairs on her bum, one at a time. This was after her hip was replaced. It’s probably more comfortable, marginally more dignified, and just as safe as crawling. She is 90.