Walking Down Stairs
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- Question: does your MS make it hard to walk down the stairs?
👩⚕️As a physical therapist who specializes in supporting those with Multiple Sclerosis, a lot of my clients face this challenge but rest assured, I’m here to help!
Here’s the truth: stairs can be incredibly exhausting, but there are some easy ways to make this activity easier and safer.
⚡Here are 7 steps you can implement TODAY:⚡
1️⃣ Hinge your hips backward before reaching for the next step for more stability.
2️⃣ Reach for the lower step with your WEAKER leg first.
3️⃣ Put your body weight in your heels (instead of your toes) to prevent you from feeling like you’ll fall forward.
4️⃣ Focus on bending your knee more. It’ll feel hard, but it can reduce tripping.
5️⃣ Hold on to the railing, but try not to DEPEND on it.
6️⃣ Keep your feet hip distance apart. The closer your feet are, the more unbalanced you'll feel.
7️⃣ Land with your toes FIRST!
While experiencing weakness and balance issues may be beyond our control, we can focus on taking one step at a time and implementing these tips to feel stronger and more stable and in control when using the stairs.
Try some of these this week and let me know if it helps!
Do you have difficulty on stairs? Let me know in the comments 👇
Question: does your MS make it hard to walk down the stairs?
👩⚕️As a physical therapist who specializes in supporting those with Multiple Sclerosis, a lot of my clients face this challenge but rest assured, I’m here to help!
Here’s the truth: stairs can be incredibly exhausting, but there are some easy ways to make this activity easier and safer.
⚡Here are 7 steps you can implement TODAY:⚡
1️⃣ Hinge your hips backward before reaching for the next step for more stability.
2️⃣ Reach for the lower step with your WEAKER leg first.
3️⃣ Put your body weight in your heels (instead of your toes) to prevent you from feeling like you’ll fall forward.
4️⃣ Focus on bending your knee more. It’ll feel hard, but it can reduce tripping.
5️⃣ Hold on to the railing, but try not to DEPEND on it.
6️⃣ Keep your feet hip distance apart. The closer your feet are, the more unbalanced you'll feel.
7️⃣ Land with your toes FIRST!
While experiencing weakness and balance issues may be beyond our control, we can focus on taking one step at a time and implementing these tips to feel stronger and more stable and in control when using the stairs.
Try some of these this week and let me know if it helps!
Do you have difficulty on stairs? Let me know in the comments 👇
I find it so hard to walk down hills now and have no idea how to get better at it please help ❤
These techniques/steps should help! Knowing WHY walking down hills would be the first thing to figure out since there can be lots of reasons. From there, working on the cause. For example, if it’s because of balance, then you want to focus on balance exercises. If it’s because of coordination or strength or alignment, they want to work on those things. I’d suggest seeing a physical therapist to see if they can help determine the cause.
Walking down stairs always seems more precarious than going up. These tips will help!
So happy to hear this resonated with you! You got this!
Thought it was just me
I find walking up and down slopes even gradual slopes more exhausting. Can I use these tips to help with the gradual inclines that I face where I live. No steps just an up-and-down incline
Absolutely - these tips should help with slopes just as much as stairs or a curb
Huh 🤔
I have great difficulty both ascending and descending stairs. Please do suggest how to go about the same
I recently posted a Short on going up the stairs as well ☺️ I hope you find it helpful!