[at-l] knee injury

[icw39@ncfreedom.net (Clark Wright)]

1)  Listen to your Doc(s) and PT(s); if they say "don't do it," ask them
for their next level of advice if you DO do it.
2)  Listen to your knees - I have several friends who were very athletic
into their 40s, took a lot of pain meds to keep on toughing it out in
their sports [including running/hiking], and now have crippling
arthritis or even knee replacements - before the age of 55!
3)  Think about weight loss; do something about weight loss!  As a real
world example from someone who was not but maybe 10 lbs overweight, I
lost a total of 50 - that's right 50! pounds during my AT thruhike last
year; about 24 lbs of body weight and about 26 lbs of pack weight! :)
4)  Use two modern hiking poles, and learn how to use them correctly.
5)  Never forget that hiking DOWNhill is much worse on your knees,
ankles, back, etc. - hiking uphill only "hurts" your cardiovascular
system, but that kind of aerobic "hurt" is GOOD for you, and after the
first few weeks will greatly diminish.
6)  Hike slower, longer.
7)  [something I've not heard many talk about on this list] STRETCH and
lightly warm up each morning before you start walking, and again each
evening before you retire. 
8)  If you can see a REPUTABLE podiatrist, consider having him or her
videotape your walk, do a full exam, etc. - sometimes orthodic shoe or
boot inserts can work wonders for knee, back pain, etc.
9)  Consider trying glucosamine - it works wonders for some people.
10)  Don't forget the Advil! :)

Good luck!

Thru-thinker

mountaingirlbl wrote:
> 
> about four days into my SOBO AT hike, i injured my knee and have
> returned home for about 20 days to rehabilitate it and get back on
> the trail.
> 
> does anyone have advice on how to hike the trail with bad knees? i am
> doing some physical therapy right now, but would like some "trail"
> advice if anyone has any.
> 
> --
> 
>  - Posted via http://forums.backcountry.net
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