Do you misstep going UP stairs or DOWN?

[Oohara]

Weird thread to bring back from the dead!

Yeah especially since it was the first thing that poster ever did on the forum

Anyway, I feel such an effort warrants a reply:

Up. My body seems to be hardwired against misstepping on the way down since a horrible accident as a kid when I slipped on my heel in the stairs and did a number on my spine and head in the process.

But misstepping going up is still legit it seems... Especially when I'm absorbed by thoughts or worry, I'll often hit the next step with the tip of my toes only and then bend my foot out of shape or trip forward grinding my shin on the edge of the step. Damn that hurts.

 

[Jessica Lares]

But misstepping going up is still legit it seems... Especially when I'm absorbed by thoughts or worry, I'll often hit the next step with the tip of my toes only and then bend my foot out of shape or trip forward grinding my shin on the edge of the step. Damn that hurts.

I do that on the sidewalk at least once a week. They're all practically sinking and slanting into the dirt, it's pathetic.

 

[maflynn]

Going down causes more issues for me. Luckily those issues are few and far between

 

[carjakester]

i don't think I've ever tripped down the stairs, its usually going up.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Neither.

(Which I would argue is a missing option on the poll, as it is not available).

However, crooked, uneven, misshapen footpaths, especially at night, when they are poorly lit, and I am ever so slightly intoxicated, have been known to pose something of a challenge in the locomotion and balance department, leading to an occasional stumble.

 

[Don't panic]

depends on the stairs.
if the steps are narrow, like in my building, going down can be an issue. i go down stairs putting the ball or front of my foot on the edge of the step, so if the step is narrow, the foot doesn't fit and the heel touches the previous step, making it awkward and sometimes causing missteps. going up is not an issue, since the foot projects outward.
if the steps are very low, then i might misstep going up, but not down. the opposite applies to high steps

and I hate going up/down broken escalators. for some reason they are 'wrong"

 

[Tomorrow]

Going up is almost never a problem for me; going down nearly always is.

My feet are kinda on the big size (size 14 US). When I go up or down stairs, I tend to step onto the balls of my feet. Going up the stairs, this isn't a problem; I simply make the step with the ball of my foot on the tread, and my heel (which really doesn't bear any weight for this exercise) hangs off the tread. Step again and repeat.

When I go down the stairs, it's very difficult for me to step with the ball of my foot on the tread of the lower stair; my heel often ends up hitting the current step (causing one type of problem), or my heel just clears the step and the edge of the step rakes up my Achilles (causing a different kind of problem). I sometimes try turning my feet outward to kind of "waddle" down the steps, but that takes hands on both handrails for me.

 

[brucecottonmout]

I think moreso while going up. I'm pretty good about descending.

 

[Abstract]

To be honest, most of my accidents happen when the ground is too flat.


Otherwise, very infrequently, I'll misstep walking up stairs.

 

[mobilehaathi]

I do both, but it is rare either way...

 

[TechGod]

yeah it is a little random but i think a nice change from all the relationship discussions lately.
plus I am curious.
the people who I know that misstep more going down have had ankle and knee injuries in the past.

Misstep going up, I had an ankle sprain. Does that count?

 

[Fairfax]

When I am home I always run up the stairs (not sure why), I misstep about twice a week and it's always on the top step or the step right below that one.

 

[localoid]

When tripping I try to avoid stares stairs.

 

[Renzatic]

I'm glad I'm not the only person in the world who has trouble walking up stairs. All this time, I thought I was some horrible genetic aberration, unequipped and entirely unfit for normal human interaction, but now I know...

...there are others. Like me.

We should start a support group.

Though in my defense, my house was built back in the late 20's, early 30's, when there was no such thing as safety standards, and everyone was a damn sadist. On my stairs, each landing overhangs the backboard by a good 3/4ths of an inch. If I'm not paying attention, I'll catch my toes on the thing, and fall face first against the steps.

Don't have too much trouble going down them, though. I've only fallen down them once, and that was enough for me. Going head over heels down a steep wooden staircase with a thick oak door not even 4 feet away from the last step blocking your fall ain't fun in the least. I walked away from that with a sprained wrist, and a bruised cheekbone, and felt lucky.

 

[Leareth]

good gods what a thread resurrect.

I still stumble more going downstairs

 

[MacNut]

I was unaware missing steps was a big issue.