March 7, 2021, 8:13 am | Read time: 3 minutes
“Skip the elevator and take the stairs” is the common advice to incorporate a bit of extra movement into your daily routine. This way, you can burn a few calories and stimulate your entire circulatory system. True! But there’s a catch. FITBOOK explains why climbing stairs isn’t as healthy as we previously thought.
Climbing stairs is considered an ideal calorie burner on the go, a mini-workout before work or after lunch. Whenever you have the choice between an elevator and stairs, fitness-conscious people would choose the stairs. But is it always healthier?
Circulation and Fitness Benefit
When climbing stairs, muscles in the calves, thighs, buttocks, and even the abdomen (if you walk upright!) are engaged, becoming firmer over time. Blood circulation and thus the entire circulatory system are stimulated, making you more alert–but if you overdo it with stair climbing, you’re doing yourself no favors. Dr. Janusz Pomer explains this in a FITBOOK interview.
The Frankfurt-based orthopedist acknowledges that movement through stair climbing is a more fitness-promoting measure compared to taking the elevator. The circulatory system benefits, and so does long-term fitness–but you shouldn’t overdo it.
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Climbing Stairs Harmful with Common Knee Asymmetries
“When climbing stairs, the entire body weight rests on the kneecap,” he explains. “This can be detrimental to bone health, especially if the kneecap is already damaged.”
According to the expert, this is not uncommon and doesn’t necessarily have to be a sign of wear and tear. Many people naturally have asymmetries in the knee area, misalignments, or a poorly developed kneecap shape, which sometimes tilts slightly outward. In youth, aseptic bone necroses, or temporary cartilage diseases, are very common, according to Pomer. These usually regress but often leave traces.
The kneecap is situated between the bone and the tendon. Its cartilage surface is supposed to protect the tendon from friction. This friction becomes excessive if you climb too many stairs for too long. And logically, being overweight also takes a toll on the knees. Possible consequences: “Swelling, pain, and sometimes premature wear,” Pomer notes.
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Is Descending Better?
On the contrary! “When running down, the strain is different but potentially even more harmful,” the orthopedist explains. His recommendation: “Don’t descend more than three floors.” In exceptional cases, taking the elevator is indeed permissible.
Note: The orthopedist Dr. Pomer interviewed by FITBOOK is related to the author of this article.