Going up the stairs on all fours: am I the only one?

[FunnyItWorkedLastTime]

This is a bit of a weird one.

When I was a kid, say 6/7/8, I'd always scamper up steepish flights of stairs on all fours.

Now I'm in my fifties I've suddenly started doing it again on my home stairs (not in public, although that's a hilarious image). Stairs are steepish, but no steeper than they've been for the last ten years I've been living here, and have got newish nice soft carpet. It suddenly seems like the natural thing to do if my hands are empty.

Does anyone else do this? Should I contact the HRT manufacturers to report a strange side-effect? Is it the sign of a hitherto unsuspected neurological condition?

No it's just fun! (And quicker than walking sometimes)

If some people find it quicker than walking, they must be seriously fit, it sounds harder than monkey crawl at the gym!

I do this! I sometimes pretend to ride a horse too! I am 40 😬

I'm 25 and I sometimes do this... in fairness I have arthritic joints

I do this when I’m racing the cat. I’m faster on 4 limbs.

he still always bloody beats me though.

I think you must be flexible! I'm too overweight for it to be fun these days.

I do this sometimes just for fun (I'm 34)

this made me laugh... cats always have to reach the top first I'm tempted to do this with mine, will give her a surprise

I have been on MN for about 15 years and this has come up several times. It’s obviously a thing! I don’t do it myself but I think it’s great and funny that other people do.

I am 60. If there are strong looking bannisters I like holding on and jumping the last few stairs on a staircase. Sometimes I keep doing more and more stairs until I lose my nerve.

Yes I absolutely do this and on my knuckles as well like orangutangs do 😆

I do it sometimes, just for the hell of it and because I can. It’s very satisfying…..as is sliding down the stairs on your backside!

I was watching a programme with an old house in it, and my first thought was how amazing it would be to slide down the bannister, proper windy, go round the corners bannisters! I'm 62.

😂I spent years going upstairs on all fours, I’m now 55 and have started doing it again 😂

How bizarre. I have a painful knee at the moment so I will might try it!

Take care this could be the thin edge of the wedge, next you'll be cocking your leg and weeing on the landing, and then humping cushions. 😱

Myself and DH have just tried this and spent a good 5 minutes in a fit of giggles. Hilarious watching someone doing this from the top, it's like a horror film. Thanks for the laugh, it will now be my new way of getting up the stairs

I've never done it, but sometimes I dream of doing it - which I've always put down to an atavistic memory of being an ape. In the dream I generally feel embarrassed by it though!

Impressive in your 50's!

I used to be able to, but my knees are utterly fucked and I can't bend them. I've got a replacement shoulder and can't get on or off the floor now, at all. It sucks as I'm a natural ground dweller.

Me. It’s fun!

Caveat: I can get up from the floor without using my hands...but not without swearing and making unladylike grunts.

I still do this every time i go round to my Mums house

I do it when I'm tired as well. Also if I think the kids next door are in bed as it makes no noise compared to walking up them.

That still counts!

I could do it gracefully until about 40, then with real effort, groaning & swearing, then the knees went!

Enjoy and keep doing all of this while you can!

I used to be a gymnast, it's hideous being so hopeless and creaking!

I used to live to jump off the last steps, I'm nervous stepping down each one now & my bloody knees hurt!

I do this, and I also like to slide down them on my bum. Although I’d say sliding down is a once a month or so occurrence where as hands and knees climb is at least daily! Never had stairs until we bought this house a year or so ago…so I’m making up for lost time!

I do this too! My stairs are so steep that we all fell down them constantly for the first month living here! I tried going down on my bum the other day but it's not as comfortable as I remember when I was a child 🤣 did anyone ever do the crocodile? Lying down and using your hands to slither down the stairs... I don't recommend it as a lady in my 30s, I used to do it as a child all the time but... Adult bodies are nothing compared to a childs 🤣 I miss being agile and fearless!!