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Original poster

Do you know any adult who still does that?

296 replies

Sweetomine · 21/03/2023 16:08

One of my friends and his brother still walk the stairs in their house on all four.

They're both in their mid twenties.

They seem to think it's completely normal and everyone does that!

Is it?

OP posts:
InsertMoniker · 21/03/2023 19:17

Never seen an adult do this in my life until recently. Caught my 90 year old mil going up on all fours. She was mortally embarrassed. I can assure everyone that she wasn't doing it for speed.

Cousinmuffin · 21/03/2023 19:17

Mumsnet is so strange sometimes. I made a thread a year ago about things like this and it was full of stuff like this that people still did. No idea why there’s so many people are saying it’s so strange

WiddlinDiddlin · 21/03/2023 19:17

Up until my late teens in my own home - I now know that this was far more comfy for me due to my dodgy back.

Now* I use both bannisters and haul myself up one step at a time (so one leg up, other leg to match, repeat, same leg leading each step) and have now lost the muscle memory to do it the normal way.

I might try the all fours method again though.. mm.

*I am disabled, can't walk more than a couple of strides and can't stand for more than a few seconds, leaning forward does extend this ability somewhat but I do only have the muscle memory for my own stairs now and sometimes have to force myself to do them when it realllllllllly hurts or I will lose that too and then I am fucked.

Anoisagusaris · 21/03/2023 19:17

Wtf??? I’ve never heard of any adult doing this, or a child over the age of about 2.

Anoisagusaris · 21/03/2023 19:19

Obviously if you have a disability or some mobility issues, and it makes it possible got you to up and down stairs, then it makes sense . Otherwise it is very strange.

ShowOfHands · 21/03/2023 19:19

Novatherova · 21/03/2023 19:11

Mind blown never ever heard of an adult doing this without an injury being the cause.

I did it when broke my ankle then broke my toe which was wayyyyyy more painful then the ankle weirdly.

Would definitely give me the ick. They're not spiders crawling along.

I don't crawl along, I do it at speed. Like a gambol. I also try and do two or three stairs at a time at a run sometimes. I'm v fit and it's a challenge. It's fun as well. Why not have a bit of fun in your day to day life. I also do pull ups on the door frame as I leave a room and jump over the garden gate.

It's just amusing. Get up enough speed when flying up the stairs and you can skid across the landing.

SlouchingTowardsBethlehemAgain · 21/03/2023 19:20

I am old now and live in a bungalow but I do have a strong memory of padding up the stairs really fast on all fours, just like a dog - it was lovely. Also just a warning, if you live in a single story house you will get 'bungalow legs' and lose the muscle memory of being really confident on stairs - bummer.

User6495321 · 21/03/2023 19:20

DH does if he has run a marathon

specialk9 · 21/03/2023 19:21

YukoandHiro · 21/03/2023 16:21

My two year old has stopped doing it, but I still do it sometimes when I'm in a massive rush - but admittedly we have very steep stairs so it sort of happens accidentally if I set off too fast 😂😂

Crying at this 😂

Weallgottachangesometime · 21/03/2023 19:21

Some of the comment here are so over the top and harsh. Utterly bizarre for people to have such a strong negative reaction to something so minimal.

I bet some of the harshest critics have some dirty little habits much worse than using your hands to get the stairs in your own home.

CombatBarbie · 21/03/2023 19:22

I need a video....

I've had to do it when my back is playing up but I don't know anyone who does it as the norm....

Cardamoney · 21/03/2023 19:22

I often run upstairs on all fours and I’m over 60. Just for fun. Other times I walk. It depends on how I feel. My DH just grins and shakes his head if he notices.

WiddlinDiddlin · 21/03/2023 19:23

Just asked my Dad - he's 82 this year. Every time on his own stairs, rarely on other peoples (but that is mostly as he is never using other peoples stairs).

Up only, down he sort of canters down holding the bannisters.

Haribo16 · 21/03/2023 19:23

Absolutely do this all the time going up the stairs and going down has to be a bum shuffle!!

JudgeJ · 21/03/2023 19:25

Pixiedust1234 · 21/03/2023 16:21

I do it sometimes going up but then I have severe pain in knee and hip joints but never ever coming down.

Or do you mean they place their knees on the step too?

At 75 I think I've earned the right to go up on all 4s sometimes though not hands and knees!

MysteryBelle · 21/03/2023 19:26

Weallgottachangesometime · 21/03/2023 19:21

Some of the comment here are so over the top and harsh. Utterly bizarre for people to have such a strong negative reaction to something so minimal.

I bet some of the harshest critics have some dirty little habits much worse than using your hands to get the stairs in your own home.

Let’s see a video then if it’s so normal. I mean, you all are very proud of yourselves especially the poster who keeps repeating over and over how he or she does it for speed LOL

Sierra26 · 21/03/2023 19:28

😂😂😂

how on earth so you go down on all fours though?!

im dying 😂

Weallgottachangesometime · 21/03/2023 19:29

I didn’t say it was normal.
haven’t seen someone say their proud of it either.

I Just don’t think it’s something to get all hot and bothered about, in the grand scheme of things it’s just a silly quirk not something to get “disturbed” by.

Weallgottachangesometime · 21/03/2023 19:29

you sound might interested in seeing a video of it though. Maybe the start of a weird kink for you?

SapatSea · 21/03/2023 19:30

59 and still do this. It's fun and a quick way to get upstairs. I also love running upstairs. I still slide down stairs sometimes too. I've had health and balance issues and when I can do this stuff, it makes me feel happy and alive. Shoot Me!

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 21/03/2023 19:31

I don't know anyone who does that.

You only think you don’t. We stair scamperers don’t generally make it public. I’m actually going to go and do it in a minute because I don’t think I’ve scampered for several days.

It’s the same as secretly avoiding the cracks in the pavement because of the bears. Absolutely no fun if anyone knows you’re doing it.

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 21/03/2023 19:32

Sierra26 · 21/03/2023 19:28

😂😂😂

how on earth so you go down on all fours though?!

im dying 😂

Only upstairs. I’m not a complete maniac.

Lodgeornot · 21/03/2023 19:32

I'm doing it at the moment. In my defense I'm recovering from back and knee injuries.

Lovelystuff · 21/03/2023 19:32

I’m getting exorcist vibes imaging adults going DOWN on all fours

ItstheZwartbles · 21/03/2023 19:32

I do it going up sometimes, usually when I'm dog tired. Am on my feet 14 hours a day so yeah, I literally crawl up to bed some nights, not at speed though 😂