Although our measurements may have included only regular stair-climbers, we believe it unlikely that any person would take longer than 1 minute to ascend to the top. Posting a sign extolling the benefits of climbing one flight of stairs may convey false information. It may lead people to believe that a single 30-second climb will substantially improve their health. People might even use this as an excuse not to engage in more effective exercise. In addition, the hazards of stair-climbing heart attacks, hip fractures need to be considered, especially in those who are normally sedentary.
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We wonder whether even this limited effort might be better invested in encouraging more meaningful behavior change. Anna B. Reisman, MD East Baltimore Medical Center Baltimore, MD 21202 Cary P. Gross, MD Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD 21287 References 1. Results from a community intervention. Ann Intern Med. Fletcher GF, Balady G, Blair SN, Blumenthal J, Caspersen CJ, Chaitman B, et al.