Why do I keep falling down the stairs?

Professionals who study why people fall on or from stairs have identified three main contributing factors: Environmental factors including poor design, construction and maintenance of stairs, non-existent or dysfunctional handrails, poor lighting and other features such as poor tread surfaces.

Why do I fall down the stairs a lot?

Overstepping. While there are plenty of reasons why someone may fall while descending stairs – poor lighting, broken stairs, lack of handrails, etc. – the two primary causes are overstepping and slipping.

How do I stop falling down stairs?

Is it normal to fall down the stairs?

According to this study, falls down stairs cause an average of approximately 1 million injuries per year. In total, this adds up to the second leading cause of accidental injuries in the entire country. Additionally, falling down the stairs causes an average of 12,000 deaths per year.

How common is falling down the stairs?

According to a 2016 research review, anywhere from 7 to 36 percent of falls occur on stairs. Additionally, an average of slightly more than 1 million people were treated in emergency departments annually for falls on stairs between 1990 and 2012, according to a 2017 study.

How to Avoid Falling Down Stairs

Why do I keep tripping and falling down?

Diabetes, heart disease, or problems with your thyroid, nerves, feet, or blood vessels can affect your balance. Some medicines can cause you to feel dizzy or sleepy, making you more likely to fall. Other causes include safety hazards in the home or community environment.

When should you see a doctor after a fall?

However, if pain from a fall persists beyond a few hours or you are unable to bear weight or move an upper extremity without pain, be sure to get evaluated by a physician. If the fall should cause a broken bone with skin disruption, get emergency care immediately.

When should you go to the doctor for a fall back?

Apart from the signs of a serious back injury, you should see your doctor if: your problems have not improved at all within a few days. your problems have not improved completely within 6 weeks.

What happens to your body when you fall down the stairs?

Stairway falls can cause trauma to the walls of spinal discs, causing them to painfully compress or bulge (“slip”). This can lead to severe pain, numbness, and muscle weakness, not just localized at the point of trauma but radiating to the arms and legs as well.

Why do elderly fall down stairs?

Nonexistent or defective handrails, poor lighting, and substandard tread surfaces are all environmental factors that can lead to a fall. Behavioral factors include lack of concentration, carrying objects while using stairs, and unsuitable footwear.

Why do I have trouble walking down stairs?

There are many reasons why people find the stairs harder with age. As we get older, we lose muscle strength and flexibility (although the right exercises can go a long way to maintaining this). Problems with vision contribute significantly to the difficulties older people experience going down the stairs.

How can I strengthen my knees to walk down stairs?

Leg Raises: While standing and holding on to a counter or dresser for stability, raise one leg a few inches off the ground by bending at the knee (similar to if you were taking a step on the stairs). Lower your foot back to the ground. That's one rep; do five reps on each side.

Can high blood pressure cause falls?

Conclusions. Blood pressure was associated with the risk of falls. Hypertensive values decreased the risk in women and low blood pressure increased the risk in men.

Why do doctors ask if you have fallen?

So, your healthcare professional is asking if you've fallen 1x because they know that if you do fall the chances of you falling again is increased. Physical therapists are the perfect healthcare provider to check your chances of falling.

What should you do immediately after a fall?

Should you rest after a fall?

Rest: The worst thing you can do for your injury is to not rest. An injury needs healing, take it easy during your recovery. Ice: Ice will help with inflammation because it helps remove excess heat from your body which presents itself after an injury. Apply ice to decrease swelling and pain.

What do you do if you fall on your butt?

For traumatic injuries, apply ice to the tailbone area for 15-20 minutes, four times a day, for the first few days after the injury. Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as aspirin or ibuprofen to reduce pain and improve your ability to move around.

What disease causes you to fall?

Sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is a syndrome that causes the general loss of strength and skeletal muscle mass, which is associated with gait disorders, balance issues and fall-related accidents.

What are 3 common causes of falls?

What is tripping a symptom of?

Tripping refers to experiencing drug-induced symptoms of psychosis (such as hallucinations and delusions) which commonly occur after taking psychotomimetic substances; these drugs are capable of producing an effect on the mind similar to a psychotic state and include substances such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ...

At what age do stairs become difficult?

So, what is the age? You may be surprised to read that 60 is the age when many activities become more difficult to do. If you're in the age range 60 and above and you're finding activities like walking or climbing up the stairs difficult you certainly aren't alone.

Which muscle is most responsible for walking down stairs?

Moving Down Stairs

A 1967 study published in the "Bone and Joint Journal" shows the hamstrings are the most active muscle during the support phase when your foot hits the stairs and takes the weight of your body while the other leg initiates the next swing.

What muscles help go down stairs?