Hi, i have mildish wear & tear in my right knee and lower back. Ive recently started fell walking in the Lake District. Ive just done the one so far, Catbells in July and it wasnt too bad apart from scrambles near to the peak. I'm now planning to walk Haystacks, Alfred Wainwright's favourite walk, next week! Its a few hundred feet higher than Catbells with longer distance and sharper descent. And the scrambles over rocks are longer apparently. I'll take my time!
So does anyone else do this with bad knees? Does it make arthritis worse or does it help to strengthen the knee as long as its not being re-injured? I've bought trekking poles which i know how to walk with so hoping they help, especially on the way down!
Written by
Ainsdale2010
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
It will help the muscles surrounding knees and leg muscles in general, but just be careful regarding slipping or twisting ankles on uneven ground, which may jar the knees…
I’ve had one knee & one hip replaced [opposite sides] and the most difficult thing was - and still is, although not to same degree, coming down! Trekking poles will help, and enjoy…
Advice coming down is to take smaller steps - this from American physio site….
It's easy to over stride when walking back down the mountain, which means your quads have to break harder. This can exacerbate existing knee pain from patellar tendonitis. Next time you go down the mountain do your knees a favor and shorten those steps just a bit!
Hi, as a Cumbria local, I've walked the fells forever, and adapted as my knees and hips have vecome more arthritic. Trek poles are your best friend, as you know. Good knee supports kept me going longer than I'd have managed otherwise.
At age 73 with a year old new hip and a less than 2 weeks old new knee, I still hope I'll get back to some of the gentler fells.
My husband is retired mountain rescue and he paces himself these days, in the knowledge that his knee OA is pretty bad. By not pushing himself he still does most of what he wants to.
We both recommend the Northern Fells, which are gentler for terrain and less full of people. And the views are spectacular.
Fell walking? I currently manage a 20 min saunter round the block with my son. Having said that I have severe arthritis in one knee and some in the other so am very careful about walking anywhere. Sensation loss in my feet doesn't help as its affected balance.
A physio stressed stengthening muscles round your knee particularly if you're thinking about surgery which I'm trying to avoid. I have a floor cycle and pedal on that occasionally it helps loosen the stiffness.
Its about pacing yourself. I went into the city centre recently with my daughter and walked more than usual, ended up in pain that lasted a few days. I fell into the taxi to get home but it was my own fault I pushed it too far.
If you can manage longer thats brilliant as long as you listen to your body....I've twisted my knee spinning round on one foot just in the bathroom, the pain was agony. Gp response was lots of paracetamol which doesn't touch the pain and I can't take antiflammatories after ulcer surgery. Codeine is the latest offering from a rheumatologist for gall stone pain. Life gets tedious.
Hi there , most people with arthritis can still manage walks like fell walking, just listen to your own body if it complains slow down. I find I can walk better with crutch so would presume the walking sticks would be quite comfortable. But do take care on uneven surfaces enjoy none the less.
Most I manage is going up and down my stairs 20 times on and off through the day, well done you on the fell walking.
All I know is summat a friend told me who had done Himalaya trails with Sherpas they walk down in a zigzag or S rather than just straight down walking which is supposedly meant to protect knee joints, and easier on stamina levels. I use it just a areas with gradients which I find easier. 😉
I have surprised myself and my husband this week by walking 22 miles in two days. Seven years ago I walked with a stick and was told by a NHS physiotherapist that I would never go for long walks again.
Recently I have discovered a YouTube channel by Alyssa Kuhn. In one of her videos she gives four pieces of advice. Strengthen the muscles surrounding the joints. Improve balance. Try to eat an anti inflammatory diet. Persevere with what ever you try for at least 8-12 weeks. This more or less sums up what I have done. There are several other channels advising on exercise.
We stopped added sugar and white flour about half a year ago and I have joined a Facebook group Quitting UPF food. At first I thought the improvement in my joints was a result of the weight loss, but now I believe that lower inflammation also plays a part.
I would say explore YouTube for strengthening exercises and listen to your knees. And enjoy your walks.
Sorry for the delay but thankyou for the replies! Theyre of great help and i'll certainly have a listen to the you tube videos. I havent yet been back to the Lakes but i hope to do so at the end of september or october if we get another settled spell!
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
new to this part of the forum
Too young for arthritis?
Rheamatoid arthritis 
