Why Your Knees Ache After Hiking
If you have ever wondered why your knees ache after hiking a long distance, the answer lies both in the nature of pain and the anatomy of the knee. The knee is one of the most overworked parts of the human body.
The knee is a marvel of engineering that has been sometime likened to the transmission of an automobile. It acts as a connection between the upper leg bone, the femur, and the lower leg bone, the tibia. A complex arrangement of ligaments and tendons surround the knee and make walking possible by allowing the leg bones to swing freely. Some scientists have claimed that the knee has not quite caught up to the evolutionary changes in the human species. It is almost as if we were not intended to stand upright and certainly not to walk or run long distances.
This is because despite the miracle of its construction, the knee is a very fragile part of the body and it subject to injury during physical exertion. Although corrective surgery has become quite advanced, many injuries permanently disable the knee from its most efficient operation. Once certain injuries take place, there is little that can be done to restore full function.
Pain is the bodies alarm system. It is caused by a chemical reaction in the nerves. The chemicals transmit signals to the brain which the brain translates as pain. This signal is intended to tell us something is wrong. So, the ache in the knees after hiking is a type of pain signal and it is signaling that something is wrong. What exactly is it trying to tell you?
One of the pieces of connective tissue in the knee is called the meniscus. The plural is menisci and this is actually a cartilage. It serves as a shock absorber between the large femur bone and the smaller tibia below it. The knee supports the entire weight of the body when standing upright. When the body is in motion, walking or running, this weight is pounding down on the menisci as well as working the other supporting tendons and ligaments. The muscles surrounding the knee are also put under a strain. After a certain amount of this constant pounding, the connective tissues began to become stressed and inflamed. Something is wrong, and the chemical reaction is begun that sends this information to the brain.
The ache in your knees after hiking is your body’s way of reminding you that you have overexerted your knee joints by subjecting them to pressures they are not able to withstand indefinitely. It is a biological and evolutionary defense mechanism that is telling you that it is time to slow down and rest. In most cases, taking the weight off the knee joint for a certain amount of time will allow the tissues to recover and the inflammation to subside. Your body is telling you to slow down and take a rest. Listen to it.
Article by by John Grimes. (Get a bevy of natural remedies for your active lifestyle at AllTerrainCo.com.)