The Hiker’s Guide For Summer

As the days heat up this season, more and more people look to the outdoors to get active. And one way to do that in a family-friendly way is to start hiking through the countryside to escape the last minute shopping rush for the holidays. Hiking can be a fulfilling exercise that’s suitable for almost everyone and seeing a Kingsland physio beforehand can make sure it’s as stress-free as possible. Even though it’s a less vigorous activity, there is always the risk of injury.

As specialists in body movement, we have developed the following guide to use this summer for your hikes with the family. These tips can help reduce the risk of injury, protect your wellbeing and reduce the impact of physical activity on your body, to provide you with a pleasant summer holiday.

1) Protect Your Skin

Sometimes we forget how important our skin is, and that leads to severe sun damage in the warmer months. Whether you’re planning on an early morning hike or choosing a trail for the late afternoon, always take precaution to avoid sunburn especially since you might not know where the trail takes you and how long you’ll stay out. Lather up on sun protection creams beforehand, during and afterwards to ensure you have full coverage.

2) Reduce Cramps

Cramps often occur because of inadequate muscle strength and lack of fluid intake. It is essential that you are properly hydrated for your hike, with continuous drinking during it. And just as important is to ensure that you have developed a strengtheing routine with your physiotherapist to avoid cramping or reduce the discomfort when it does occur.

3) Choose Your Footwear Wisely

While you needn’t have to purchase the most expensive pair of hiking shoes available on the market, you should take caution to select carefully what you choose to hike in. Falling down or slipping on different surfaces during your hike is a very real possibility. It can also lead to a severe ankle sprain or worse. Before hiking, consult with your physio about your choice of shoes to assess if they have a good grip and provide sufficient support.

4) Prepare For Inflammation

Microtears can occur in the muscles and also the ligaments when met with uneven surfaces, rough terrains and excessive force without proper stretching. Its best to prepare well for your hike to avoid irritation and inflammation by doing strengthening and stretching exercises and wearing the right shoes, the latter being one of the most-effective important factors.

Visiting a Kingsland physio before you start hiking away this season can be extremely beneficial to first-timers as well as experienced hikers. We provide expert advice, professional support and can condition your body to try to prevent or reduce injury. For helpful assistance – speak to us today to ensure that your body is prepared to tackle any physical activity this summer.