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Staying Healthy
Master the stairs
- By Matthew Solan, Executive Editor, Harvard Men's Health Watch
Stair climbing is one of the best workouts to help with balance, endurance, and fall prevention.
Your ability to climb a flight of stairs is one of the great markers of health. It’s often used to gauge your mobility and stamina, fitness level after an injury, and whether it’s safe to resume sex after a heart attack. But stair climbing can offer much more.
"Stair climbing is an excellent form of overall exercise for older adults because it challenges multiple muscle groups at once, such as your quadriceps, glutes, and calves, as well as improves cardiovascular strength and endurance," says Michelle Munley, a physical therapist with Harvard’s Spaulding Outpatient Center Peabody. "If you can safely and effectively navigate up and down stairs, you can stay more active in life."
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Mobility and Independence, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School, will help you maintain your mobility and safeguard your independence. It will give you recommendations for exercise, diet, preventive care, and lifestyle choices that will keep you stronger and steadier with fewer aches and more stamina. Plus, you’ll get advice for aging in place, adapting and fall-proofing your home, choosing services, and more.
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