"Bob F" wrote in message
...
(PeteCresswell) wrote:
Due to neurological issues, descending a staircase is becoming
increasingly problematic for Yours Truly.

Current strategy is going down sideways holding the railing, but a
collapsed knee could defeat that.

If I take a header, seems like the best outcome would be a quick
death... but the most likely outcome would be long term disability.

That being said....

Is anybody familiar with assistive devices to mitigate the risk?

A mini-elevator seems like overkill to me - and also a space-eating
PITA.

Ascending, no problem... worst case a bruised knee or something.

I'm starting to think in terms of some kind of quick-on-quick-off
harness attached to a spool whose speed of unwinding is governed.

You put slip the harness on around the chest, start going down the
stairs, start to take a header, and the inertial brake on the spool
kicks in reducing the header to something more like a straight-down
fall on to one's butt or knees.

There are fall protection devices designed for workers to prevent injury
in falls from height.

You could string a rope along the stair wall, and use a prussik knot to it
on a line that clips onto your belt. You walk up/down guiding the prussik
knot along with your hand. If you fall, the prussik knot tightens and
stops moving on the guide rope, stopping your fall.

I thought of that, but I don't know that this technique will prevent you
from falling the one or two feet you might fall to hurt yourself on the
stairs. Sure, it would keep you from tumbling all the way down the stairs,
but I don't think that is enough.