How should I use my walking stick when going up and down stairs?
How do I use a walking stick to go up and down stairs?
─Safe steps you should know to prevent falls─
When using a walking stick to go up or down stairs, it can be surprisingly easy to get confused about which foot to put first and when to use the walking stick. By remembering the correct order, you can use the stairs with peace of mind.
If you have pain in your knees or hips, or if you are worried about walking, please refer to the steps below.
◆ The order of walking sticks when "going up" stairs
When climbing stairs, make sure to keep your weight on your good leg.
The basic order:
Put the walking stick on the next step
Put out your good (healthy) leg
Put out the painful (affected) leg
By doing it in this order, you can pull up your body with your healthy side, which can better support your weight, making it easier to maintain your balance.
◆ The order of walking sticks when "going down" stairs
When going down stairs, it is important to put the walking stick and affected leg down first to avoid putting strain on the painful leg.
The basic order:
Lower the walking stick one step
Put out the painful (affected) leg
Put out your good (healthy) leg
By doing it in this order, the cane and healthy side will cover the impact on the painful leg, reducing the risk of falling.
◆ For those who can climb and descend stairs smoothly
If you can walk up and down stairs without aligning your feet on each step (i.e., you are stable when climbing stairs), there is no problem with alternating left and right. However, even in this case, you should be careful when using the cane and ensure that you can maintain your balance at all times.
Summary: When it comes to stairs, "the good leg is strong going up, the bad leg is weak going down"
As a tip for remembering,
"When going uphill, put your good foot first. When going downhill, put your bad foot first."
If you keep this phrase in mind, you will naturally learn the correct order of walking stick and feet.
To walk safely, try using a walking stick slowly and carefully, taking each step one by one.