Follow these expert stair-climbing tips to avoid falls.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
If your mobility or balance is limited by arthritis, navigating a flight of stairs can seem like scaling a cliff: one wrong move can cause a serious fall.
But following a few simple steps can make managing those steps easier and reduce your risk of falling.
First, remember the phrase: up with the good, down with the bad.
This means when you’re climbing, lead with your stronger leg.
When coming down, lead with the weaker leg.
Take stairs one at a time.
Use handrails. They can help with balance and give you something to grab onto if you begin to fall.
If you’re using a cane, put the cane on your side opposite the handrail.
When going up, first put your stronger leg on the next step, followed by the cane and then your other leg.
When you go down, lead with the cane, followed by your weaker and then your stronger leg.
If there’s no handrail, follow this same procedure, keeping your cane on the side you normally do. Whether or not there’s a handrail, don’t go up sideways. You’ll be less stable and more likely to fall.
Of course, the best way to prevent falling on stairs is to avoid them altogether.
Take ramps whenever possible.
Following the right stair strategy can make managing the ups and downs of arthritis a bit easier.