Going Down Stairs

[beachcomber]

Does anyone know why going DOWN stairs is harder (well, for me, anyway) than going UP stairs?

I am trying to decide if it is actually more painful or just scarier for some reason?

What do you all think?

 

[referee54]

It deals with the way your muscles work. I have been just starting to go down stairs on a regular basis (method) but I have been going up stairs for about a month.

Your PT can explain it better than I can, but my PT showed me exercises that were a big help.

Tim C.

 

[Doug]

Going up the stairs you use more muscle group including your gluts(butt), your calf, and your thigh muscles. That gives more support to your lower body.
Going down stairs is not only a balance issue but you use more of the front thigh muscles and very little of the other muscles.
Our lower thigh muscles were cut for the TKR. My lower quads are the most stiff remnants of the operation now... Plus if you don't have good ROM yet, the leg is stiff and therefore makes you more unstable.

 

[beachcomber]

thanks--- makes sense.

I think in my case it is balance and fear. I don't trust my new knee yet and due to my back surgery restrictions there are many PT exercises I can't do yet so we haven't worked on stairs yet.....

I think I read somewhere that PKRs are quad-sparing. One of the great benefits.....

all the best to you in your recovery! thanks for your support!

 

[Josephine]

ref, Doug - you're going to make me redundant!!

Good answers, tho but!!

 

[gatiger]

Going up allows you to include some movement from your hip joint as you lift your foot, the other muscle groups mentioned earlier. The first step down is the fear part, but as your other leg moves to the next step, it leaves your operative leg (foot) up behind you which then has to be raised higher before it can follow your body. This is the point where balance becomes an issue. The majority of falls happen when the operative leg is trailing behind the body for too long and gravity takes over. Also, since the bad leg cannot recover as quickly, you can't recover your balance. It is a good idea to practice steps by trying to lift your operative foot high enough behind you to place it on the first step at the ground level before trying to go down on your own, especially if you are alone in case of a fall. I learned this through personal experience.

 

[beachcomber]

thanks for the great reply--- makes sense.
I think stair-climbing is on my knee PT agenda as soon as my back doctor clears it...I see others with knee scars trudging up and down the stairs from time to time...