Doing The Outdoors Injury Free

Remember to always stay hydrated during and post activity! Even though it’s a cooler temperature outside, your body still needs water. Dress appropriately: wind breakers, rain coats, and sturdy closed toed foot wear will keep you safe and comfortable. And you should always tell someone where and when you are going out; or better yet, take a friend!

Now for our expert guidance: make sure you warm up before your activity! Begin with five to 10 minutes of warm up, especially your ankles and hip joints. Focusing on healthy mobility, stability, and flexibility of the ankles and hips will reduce the possibility of injuries when trail running or hiking, as well as any painful calf cramps.

Take a look at our drills/exercise section mentioned previously for many mobility drills to help you achieve a proper warm up! This ankle drill is definitely a good start. 

When performing your outdoor activity, make sure you are staying strong and in control. While having fun, make sure your body is recruiting the right muscles while walking/running/cycling and try not to rely on old antalgic gait patterns (moving in a way to avoid pain). Creating a sense of body awareness will help you avoid injuries, as well as connect you to the exercise even more. It’s a great idea to get a full functional assessment to ensure you are moving well.