When people undertake a multi-day or thru-hike, some tend to believe that they’ll ‘get their trail legs’ and be fine after a few days....

In a recent Q&A session in The Healthy Hiker's Facebook Group for Women I received this question: "I would love to be able to squat down,...

Many pathological conditions cause hand swelling, like carpal tunnel syndrome, Raynaud’s disease, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, thoracic...

In a recent hiking group discussion on lateral knee pain caused by iliotibial band (ITB) syndrome, many hikers recommended using a hiking...

Long and multi-day hikes can leave you feeling stiff and sore. A yoga flow sequence provides the perfect dynamic warmup before you strap...

When one of my local clients complained of knee pain while training for a European hiking trip, I said, “Let’s hit the trail!” As we...

The list of excuses is long and distinguished. You can’t do…insert your hiking, fitness, or adventure dream here…because: 1. My old...

A few days ago, I was climbing at 10,700 feet on a trail alongside mountain goats and overlooking numerous mountain lakes. The steep...

If my daughter said while hiking, “My pack is too heavy,” I would stop and adjust the fit or redistribute the weight to make her burden...

Plantar fasciitis (PF) affects nearly 10% of the general population(1). This lingering and painful foot problem can be devastating to a...

Plyometrics are a popular training approach for athletes who need power in their sport. Unlike a football lineman or volleyball player,...

Many hikers don’t exercise to strengthen their legs because they worry they are hurting their knees. Often the reason for this worry...

On a recent hike rated as strenuous with significant elevation changes, several people stopped me and asked me for directions. They had a...

Every hiker’s worst nightmare, besides the dreaded grizzly, is running out of water on the trail. Consequently, hikers tend to carry the...

Back to the basics of muscle contractions Hiking works muscles in different ways depending on the direction, grade, and type of hiking....

With summer upon us, things are heating up on the trail! One of the safety concerns for hikers is heat stress. Why is heat such an issue?...

Most people think of hiking as recreational, and it is! But, it's also an athletic activity. The same type of injuries that sideline...

Improving fitness is a process of tearing down and building back up. Endurance training uses up stored energy, and strength training...

Are inclines leaving you breathless? Love the views from the top but huff and puff on the ascent? There’s one way to improve your...

Shoulder strength and core stability are important to hikers and backpackers as they carry loads and maintain balance on uneven terrain....