RE: [at-l] new to the list and a bad knee

["W F Thorneloe, MD" <thornel@ibm.net>]

First, remember that no one in cyber land has any real idea what is wrong 
with your knees. An accurate diagnosis by your real world doc, and probably 
a visit to a trainer/PT is the first item of business.

As GMC said initially, focus on building up your quads, regardless of the 
current status of your knees. Weak quads are the most common cause of knee 
pain on the trail, further complicated by over loaded packs. When the 
downhills are painful, you are being scolded for excessive weight and poor 
conditioning. (Not that anyone _I_ know ever had such a problem!)

What's the easiest and most convenient exercise for your quads? Walk past 
the elevator, and start walking the stairs on every occasion. Walk each 
step, do not skip steps, do not run. Simply walk the steps.

Next, start walking each day. Walk to the Quiktrip for your cigarettes and 
candy bars.

Finally, while sitting in boring meetings and psychotherapy sessions, 
extend each leg and hold it for a count of 10, and repeat as many times as 
you can stand (or until someone begins to look at you suspiciously).

There are many websites covering this (hint, hint Wild Bill). I was 
impressed with several hikers who seem to able to discard knee supports by 
the time they hit Standing Indian. I'm also impressed by those who bail out 
for "emergency chondrotin" purchases out of Dahlonaga. Get prepared before 
those Georgia Hills beat you up.

OrangeBug
Atlanta, GA

At 05:06 PM 9/30/1999 -0400, Taylor, Howard wrote:
>I, too, have bad knee(s), etc.  So the question occurs to me... what do you
>do to get in shape to hike 2100 miles (or a 4 week section hike for that
>matter)?  Thanks in advance for your input!
>Brown Dawg (on the porch in GA)

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