Fitness Enthusiasts Face Security Issues While Stair Climbing for Exercise

Stair climbing has gained popularity as an effective workout, but enthusiasts often encounter building security and access restrictions. Research shows climbing stairs for just four minutes provides similar benefits to 10 minutes of brisk walking.

Twenty years ago, Tom McGee started using stairwells for workouts as a strategy to quit smoking. The 69-year-old Chicago-area market researcher has faced an unexpected challenge: security guards who view his exercise routine with suspicion.

“I’ve gotten kicked out of about every hotel in the city,” McGee explained.

While stair climbing has gained recognition in fitness recommendations, regular practitioners report difficulties accessing stairwells due to building management restrictions in office towers.

Medical professionals strongly advocate for this form of exercise. Dr. Luis Rodriguez, a 66-year-old semi-retired pediatric pulmonologist who competes in stair-climbing competitions, emphasized the comprehensive workout benefits.

“You are working your legs. You are working your heart. You are working your lungs,” Rodriguez noted. “You can get a lot more benefit than just walking, because gravity is working against you.”

Scientific studies support these claims, showing that four minutes of stair climbing equals approximately 10 minutes of fast-paced walking or 20 minutes of leisurely walking.

Federal fitness guidelines updated in 2018 began encouraging brief activity bursts, such as consistently choosing stairs over elevators at work. These recommendations highlight how small activities throughout the day can accumulate meaningful health improvements without requiring lengthy workout sessions.

Virginia Tech exercise specialist Stella Volpe observed that many individuals “don’t realize that they don’t have to exercise all in one bout for it to be effective.”

University of Georgia public health researcher Jennifer Gay noted additional benefits, explaining that stair climbing may boost mental wellness and increase energy levels.

Medical experts advise that individuals with mobility concerns should consult physicians before beginning stair climbing routines.

The American Lung Association organizes annual “Fight for Air” fundraising events in office buildings nationwide each spring. While these events are enjoyable, organizers explain the name references the breathlessness participants experience after ascending multiple floors, similar to symptoms of respiratory conditions.

Property owners often restrict stair access due to liability concerns. Legal advisors warn landlords and building operators about potential lawsuits if individuals slip or fall on staircases. Hazardous conditions like inadequate lighting, wet steps, and damaged railings can lead to injury claims.

Many facility managers have implemented emergency-only stair policies based on such legal guidance.

A 2018 study examining hospital emergency visits found over one million annual stair-related injuries nationwide, with fractures occurring more frequently among elderly individuals. Women comprised more than 60% of those injured.

However, Gay’s research indicates minimal injury risk for people climbing upward. Descending stairs presents greater danger, and building managers “can’t make it a one-way street,” she added.

Health advocates have spent over ten years pushing for improved stair access. In 2013, ChangeLab Solutions, a California health policy organization, published guidelines encouraging property owners to unlock stairwells, arguing they present no higher liability than other shared building areas.

Gay and her research team estimate that 60% of American workers are employed in multi-floor buildings containing stairwells. However, no data exists showing what portion of these structures limit stair usage.

Stair climbing enthusiasts frequently share stories about struggling to locate accessible staircases.

Lisa Bai, a New York real estate professional, cannot access her office building’s stairs. While this should provide convenient exercise opportunities, sometimes “it’s not,” she said.

Bai and others seek alternative stepping solutions. Exercise machines like StairMasters can simulate stair climbing workouts, though tower climb participants say these devices don’t match the intensity of actual stairs.

Creative solutions become necessary when home or public stair access is limited.

Detroit suburban residents Carmen Erickson and Vivian Dawson have maintained a stair climbing partnership for roughly ten years, typically meeting three times weekly at a local park.

Travel presents additional challenges. During joint vacations, they deliberately book top-floor rooms in tall hotels to utilize stairwells. They also seek out hills and hospital parking structures.

The pair successfully negotiated after-hours building access by signing liability waivers and checking in with security personnel during each visit.

“If you connect with the right people and tell them what they’re doing and agree to the rules, it hasn’t really been a problem for us,” said Erickson, 53.

Dawson, 64, added: “You have to really want to do it.”