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

Spikeygran

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. 

I'm glad that you have found a method of going up and down stairs that suits you. 

Staircases vary wildly, with different widths, depths, tread heights,etc, and each individual will have different levels of fitness, disability and weakness so its up to us to work out the safest method for ourselves.