Knees and coming down a mountain
Discussion
I'm currently training for the three peaks challenge but I'm finding it murder on my knees coming down hills etc.. My current bodyweight is 19stone 9lbs and I'm hoping I'll find it easier as the weight falls off but would walking sticks or knee supports help? Any tips would be great to ease the pain.
Chipper said:
I'm currently training for the three peaks challenge but I'm finding it murder on my knees coming down hills etc.. My current bodyweight is 19stone 9lbs and I'm hoping I'll find it easier as the weight falls off but would walking sticks or knee supports help? Any tips would be great to ease the pain.
Yep a couple of alpine poles will reduce the weight on your knees by about 30%. Weight loss is clearly going to help here. What footwear do you have and when are you going. I know some trips insist on "stout leather walking boots" but I say knobs to that and get some real comfy bouncy trainers, assuming it is dry when you go and the ground is hard.
Otherwise, boots.
try not to take big strides coming down, although I know the last mile or two coming down Ben Nevis is basically a stone staircase, will really pound your knees......
I've got some proper measured boots already which are fantastic with some special Insoles which have actually helped me with a recurring bad back.
It sounds like the poles will be a really big help and hopefully if I can knock another two stone off by September I might be ready.
Did the Brecon Beacons today in thick mist and rain. Can't believe it but I'm loving it - apart from coming down!
It sounds like the poles will be a really big help and hopefully if I can knock another two stone off by September I might be ready.
Did the Brecon Beacons today in thick mist and rain. Can't believe it but I'm loving it - apart from coming down!
If your are 19 stone and running down mountains, I hope you have good health insurance 'cos your knees are going to be wrecked by the time you finish (do you really want to have your knees rebuilt and walk like a cripple?). You really need to lose the weight before you start running downhill. If you can't do that, I would advise running up and walking down using ski poles to take the weight ( your knees will thank you )
No offence, but that's a lot of force going through your knees. I hate sticks with a passion (seem to slow most people down, not speed them up, bar the through hikers on the appalachian trail I've seen), BUT...
..they do have a point and you would certainly benefit from them. I've got a mate with a dodgy knee - cartilage issues from playing too much football - and he swears by his walking poles when he's climbing.
..they do have a point and you would certainly benefit from them. I've got a mate with a dodgy knee - cartilage issues from playing too much football - and he swears by his walking poles when he's climbing.
Burrow01 said:
Chipper said:
I'm not running anywhere and I would say my natural weight would be around 19 stone. I'm 6'4 with a 50 inch chest.
How tall are youPerhaps one should look up Fatorexia?
alfa pint said:
No offence, but that's a lot of force going through your knees. I hate sticks with a passion (seem to slow most people down, not speed them up, bar the through hikers on the appalachian trail I've seen), BUT...
..they do have a point and you would certainly benefit from them. I've got a mate with a dodgy knee - cartilage issues from playing too much football - and he swears by his walking poles when he's climbing.
I've just invested in walking poles so hopefully it will help..they do have a point and you would certainly benefit from them. I've got a mate with a dodgy knee - cartilage issues from playing too much football - and he swears by his walking poles when he's climbing.
mattikake said:
That's a BMI of around 33 (Morbidly obese)! Nearly 20St is not a natural weight at all.
Perhaps one should look up Fatorexia?
If I remember correctly the BMI rate for someone of 6"4 is around 14 stone. At anything below 17 stone I would look quite ill. I should of said 19 stone on the dot is something I'm comfortable with but 18 stone is where I should be. The majority of my workout is cycling , walking and swimming with some light weight training and the only reason I started this thread was to find out if there was any useful help from experienced hill walkers. Perhaps one should look up Fatorexia?
Tiggsy said:
19 stone is not a natural weight for anyone (human)
i'm 6ft6 (and powerfully built
) and at 19/20 stone jogging would KILL my knees - I'm now around 17 1/2 and they are fine.
Totally agree with jogging with above weight but I'm walking as I've stated and was just after some sensible advice. I'm trying to reduce the weight with my general exercises of walking and cycling which are low impact. I only train on the hills around by us currently one day a fortnight with the team and the only problem I have is coming down and was just looking for some advice on what might help. i'm 6ft6 (and powerfully built
) and at 19/20 stone jogging would KILL my knees - I'm now around 17 1/2 and they are fine.I'm hoping to be under 18 stone by September when we attempt the three peaks
Descending is always the toughest bit as with each step you have to catch your momentum and weight on one leg. Walking poles should help as you can take some of the weight on your arms/shoulders rather than a knee.
If you do gym training, perhaps add single leg squats to your routine (bodyweight only usually)?
Other than that, more practice will get your legs more accustomed to descending. I find it easier to run downhill than walk, but that's probably not an option for you.
Edit: Can you do some walks including descents more often than once every fortnight?
If you do gym training, perhaps add single leg squats to your routine (bodyweight only usually)?
Other than that, more practice will get your legs more accustomed to descending. I find it easier to run downhill than walk, but that's probably not an option for you.
Edit: Can you do some walks including descents more often than once every fortnight?
ewenm said:
Descending is always the toughest bit as with each step you have to catch your momentum and weight on one leg. Walking poles should help as you can take some of the weight on your arms/shoulders rather than a knee.
If you do gym training, perhaps add single leg squats to your routine (bodyweight only usually)?
Other than that, more practice will get your legs more accustomed to descending. I find it easier to run downhill than walk, but that's probably not an option for you.
Thanks ewenm I'll try single leg squats. If you do gym training, perhaps add single leg squats to your routine (bodyweight only usually)?
Other than that, more practice will get your legs more accustomed to descending. I find it easier to run downhill than walk, but that's probably not an option for you.
Hi,
I did the national three peaks a few weeks ago so I can give a bit of feedback...
In all the practice walks my knees were in pieces after the climbs back down. I train a lot anyway, so leg strength etc was already there but still had knee issues.
Poles are supposed to help, so I bought some before the challenge and used themm for Nevis. I really couldn't get on with them and I don't think they helped at all. If I had had some practice with them this may have been a different storey.
I bought some knee straps also. These helped I believe but kept slipping down which was a PITA.
I think what helped the most was a bit of conditioning, i.e. practice walks to get the knees used to it. After the three mountains they were better off than after the first practice walk up snowdon. I put this down to knee supports and conditioning. Don't get me wrong they still hurt, but not as bad.
I did the national three peaks a few weeks ago so I can give a bit of feedback...
In all the practice walks my knees were in pieces after the climbs back down. I train a lot anyway, so leg strength etc was already there but still had knee issues.
Poles are supposed to help, so I bought some before the challenge and used themm for Nevis. I really couldn't get on with them and I don't think they helped at all. If I had had some practice with them this may have been a different storey.
I bought some knee straps also. These helped I believe but kept slipping down which was a PITA.
I think what helped the most was a bit of conditioning, i.e. practice walks to get the knees used to it. After the three mountains they were better off than after the first practice walk up snowdon. I put this down to knee supports and conditioning. Don't get me wrong they still hurt, but not as bad.
Chipper said:
mattikake said:
That's a BMI of around 33 (Morbidly obese)! Nearly 20St is not a natural weight at all.
Perhaps one should look up Fatorexia?
If I remember correctly the BMI rate for someone of 6"4 is around 14 stone. Perhaps one should look up Fatorexia?
Chipper said:
At anything below 17 stone I would look quite ill. I should of said 19 stone on the dot is something I'm comfortable with but 18 stone is where I should be.
Interesting choice of words all of that. I would definitely look up Fatorexia - basically the diametric opposite of Anorexia.Chipper said:
The majority of my workout is cycling , walking and swimming with some light weight training and the only reason I started this thread was to find out if there was any useful help from experienced hill walkers.
Fair enough. There is knowledge to be had on all fronts, and you got some from someone who works in the fitness industry. As such a person, I strongly advise that there is more to hill walking than just deciding to do it or exclusively looking for a hill walkers advice. (or I guess you'd post on a hill walking forum, not a car forum ).But I don't know how fit you are, how long you've been exercising, how long you've been overweight, you lifestyle, mental health, RHR, BP etc. etc. and any other associated issues, so it's all very general and not meant to be condescending.
mattikake said:
Fair enough. There is knowledge to be had on all fronts, and you got some from someone who works in the fitness industry. As such a person, I strongly advise that there is more to hill walking than just deciding to do it or exclusively looking for a hill walkers advice. (or I guess you'd post on a hill walking forum, not a car forum ).
But I don't know how fit you are, how long you've been exercising, how long you've been overweight, you lifestyle, mental health, RHR, BP etc. etc. and any other associated issues, so it's all very general and not meant to be condescending.
Strangely all I wanted was advice on walking down a hill not a life lesson on BMI. Also you don't know anything about me or the team I'm doing the challenge with. ).But I don't know how fit you are, how long you've been exercising, how long you've been overweight, you lifestyle, mental health, RHR, BP etc. etc. and any other associated issues, so it's all very general and not meant to be condescending.
Edited and then decided it was pointless debating with him
Edited by Chipper on Monday 6th June 18:01
Edited by Chipper on Monday 6th June 18:02
Edited by Chipper on Monday 6th June 18:03
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