Preparing Joints for Hiking

Video Transcript

"Something else you can do to help your joints basically is be conscious of the way that you walk downhill or downstairs. If you can train yourself to walk safely down a hill or down a decline you'll really really be able to save your joints when you are going down steep mountains but like say for instance a lot of people walk downstairs and they just kind of drop, you're having, when you do that it is like your whole body is jarring all on this one knee right there and that's more pressure than it really needs and so what you need to do is to try to let your muscles cushion as you are going down stepping really train yourself to do that and if you can force yourself to do that when you are walking downhill or walking down stairs regularly then it is going to be natural when you are doing it in the back country and you are really going to be able to save your joints because that really is a lot a lot of stress when you are walking down with your body weight and your pack weight downhill on your knees. So try to be conscious of the way you are walking downhill and don't let that jarring motion happen."