Are there any physical fitness benefits to walking down stairs?

I work on the 21st floor, so for every flight I walk up every day to stay active, I spend a lot of time walking down, too. Asked by EmLocke12 55 months ago Similar questions: physical fitness benefits walking stairs Health > Fitness & Diet.

Similar questions: physical fitness benefits walking stairs.

Sure thereare benefits! If you think about it, all of your weight is coming down with each step, and your leg muscles have to 'catch and support' you each step. It's not as difficult as walking up the stairs, and it works different muscles, but it's definitely better than taking the elevator.

And bully for you takling 21 flights up to the office! That's got to be a workout! .

Your plan is a good one,but the differences subtle. From a cardiovascular standpoint,theyre virtually identical,though up is more strenuous than down. The amount of energy used to walk up stairs is greater than that of walking diown,so a few more calories by way of more work and muscles involved.

That takes care of that aspect. The major difference physiologically would be the mucles used to execute either. I'll split them up,to make it easier to read.

Up:Primary stimulus is on the gluteus maximus/minimus (your butt),hamstrings,gastrocnemius and soleous(calves),spinal erectors (lower back) while there is limited stimulus to the coastals,intercoastals,obliques etc. (your core). Down:Primary influence is on the quadriceps (most of your thigh),hip flexors,peroneous (that's that muscle that noone knows about,next to your shinbone) while there is still influence on the entire core. Bear in mind,stimulating specific body parts via exercise,has absolutey no influence on fat metabolism in that area (that's referred to as spot reduction).

If you have bad knees,walking down stairs is not the best idea,as your bodyweight shifts to a more "shear" type of stress while waliking down. Climbing stairs is definitely a better exercise for a few reasons,but walking down has advantages,too. Sources: I've been lifting weihts for 23 years and done extensive research .

You get some benefit. Keep the walk brother. Calories burned in 10 minutes activity Walking downstairs 56 Walking upstairs 146 .

Yes. Legs have two sets of muscles; One for walking and running. The other for climbing (bicycling) including going down stairs.

While I was in the military, we ran two miles everday. Into my second year in the military, I moved off post and got a bicycle rather than walk to base everyday. The first day I rode it I was so sore I could barely run the next day!

That's when I found out the legs have two sets of muscles--my climbing muscles were weak. It is the same for your situation. Going just up the stairs will exercise most of the muscle that is used for climbing...going down the stairs will exercise the rest.

I need the exercise now--twenty years later--I wish I had 21 stories to go up and down everyday. Bye! .

1 ProtonAgonist, regarding your answer "Sure thereare benefits! ": I must admit that I don't walk up all the flights at once! I usually walk the first 10 or 12 and take the elevator the rest of the way to catch my breath.

The only times I've taken the stairs all the way to the top it's been because the elevators were broken! Thanks for answering! .

ProtonAgonist, regarding your answer "Sure thereare benefits! ": I must admit that I don't walk up all the flights at once! I usually walk the first 10 or 12 and take the elevator the rest of the way to catch my breath.

The only times I've taken the stairs all the way to the top it's been because the elevators were broken! Thanks for answering!

Boomer Alert! Who remembers the 50 mile hike that came from Kennedy's physical fitness campaign? " "I can't seem to get motivated to start a fitness program." "What steps do you take to jump start a diet & fitness plan?

Any suggestions welcome! " "What's a good treadmill workout to improve fitness?" "Any tips for bodybuilding & fitness championships? " "Are you familiar with "brain fitness programs?

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Boomer Alert! Who remembers the 50 mile hike that came from Kennedy's physical fitness campaign?

I can't seem to get motivated to start a fitness program.

I want a software package that keeps track of diet, nutrition, fitness and also lets me do regular diary entries.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.