Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine what influence different methods of descending stairs has on the lower extremity joints, with the consideration of securing safety for senior citizens and handicapped persons. Subjects were 11 healthy adult men. The angles of the lower limb joints and moments when descending forward, backwards, sideways with the swing leg diagonally forward (SF), and sideways with the swing leg diagonally behind (SB) were measured using a 3-dimensional motion analysis system combined with two force plates. It was found that the hip flexion angle and hip extension moment in the support leg decreased when descending forward and SF. On the other hand, the ankle dorsal flexion angle and plantar flexion moment, and the knee flexion angle and extension moment in the support leg decreased when descending backwards and SB. We suggest that SF may be a good alternative for descending forward, and SB may be a good alternative for descending backwards. We suggest that descending backwards and SB are suitable for knee and ankle dysfunctions, and descending forward and SF are suitable for hip dysfunctions. We confirmed that the difference in the method of stair descending influences the lower extremity joint angles and moments, and the methods taught to patients should be suitable to their situation.
