How to Descend Stairs While Reducing Impact on Your Legs

When descending, just like ascending, always remember to keep the width between your legs wider than your pelvis and land on your toes. Imagine your pelvis swinging left and right, leading your feet down the stairs. This method helps maintain upper body stability while reducing damage to your leg muscles. If your front foot lands in the center of your body when descending, your upper body will become unstable, increasing the risk of falling. Elderly individuals should be particularly careful. Descending stairs can create the illusion that it doesn't strain your muscles, but it's actually the opposite. Research by Professor Masayoshi Yamamoto of the Department of Sports Life Science at Kanoya University of Sports and Health indicates that descending stairs causes the greatest impact on the legs compared to walking on flat ground, ascending, or even running. In an experiment involving climbing 600 steps of the Tokyo Tower, participants were divided into an 'ascending group' and a 'descending group.' The next day, only the 'descending group' reported muscle soreness and fatigue. Point: When descending, the landing position of your front foot should be wider than your pelvis, and you should land on your toes.