4 ways to keep your knees in shape for hiking

For those of us who love adventure and active exploration of the great outdoors near Sevierville, our knees are one of the most valuable parts of our body. Because hiking, trail running, and biking tend to put pressure on these most important joints, it's vital to take the time to practice methods that will keep your knees in tip-top shape, making sure they can take on the adventure you want to have. for years to come. Here are four ways to keep your knees in good shape.

Rest: While this may seem counterintuitive to a life of adventure, not allowing your knees to rest puts them at a much higher risk of injury. You also run the risk of further damaging an already tender joint, which could lead to chronic pain, swelling, and arthritis.

All of this can be avoided with rest, ensuring the health of your knees and other joint and muscle groups in the long term. Always remember that ultimately resting will allow you to perform better in all your adventure activities. Make sure to rest after a day of vigorous activity and always allow one or two days a week where you avoid any strenuous exercise. On a lazy day, you can walk through the park in Sevierville, and when you see the mountains in the distance, know you'll be back there before you know it.

Strengthen: Making sure you strengthen the muscles around your knee and get the vital blood flowing to crucial parts is one of the best ways to ensure you don't end up suffering a knee injury. Activities that are not difficult on your joints are great ways to strengthen yourself in these areas, such as yoga, swimming, and moderate cycling. As you work to strengthen your knees, cross training with activities that build your cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, and agility is the perfect complement to ensure a balanced activity plan.

Plan Your Walk - Be aware of your body's needs before, during, and after your walk to decrease the chance of injury during any part of the activity.

Always make sure to warm up and stretch before starting your hike. Wear shoes that properly distribute the load on your weight-bearing joints. The shoes you wear while hiking should fit well and provide comfort and support. If you have joints that are already affected, you might consider using a cane to help disperse your body weight. People with more serious injuries may use braces and support devices, as well as shoe inserts. There is a wider range of options available to suit every situation and help you enjoy the hike to the fullest. When starting your hike, be sure to start slowly and gradually increase your activity level over time. If you are returning from an injury, or have not been very active before, be sure to start on a higher level, even trails, increasing the distances and difficulty of your hike as you get fitter and stronger. A good place to start is a walk in a park in Sevierville. Always make sure that at the end of a hike, you cool down and stretch again to finish it.

By taking these preventative measures, you ensure that your body can take you on all of your adventures for years to come. Take care of your body and it will take care of you!

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