What are the best ways to prevent knee pain when hiking in Georgia?

Hiking in Georgia is an amazing way to enjoy the mountains, waterfalls, and scenic trails, but steep inclines and uneven terrain can put extra stress on your knees. Here’s how to keep your knees strong and pain-free on the trails:

🥾 Wear Supportive Hiking Boots – Look for boots with good ankle support and shock absorption to reduce knee strain on rocky or uneven paths.

🦵 Strengthen Your Knees Before Hiking –

• Squats & Step-Ups to strengthen quads and glutes.
• Calf Raises to stabilize lower leg muscles.
• Balance Training to prevent missteps that strain the knee.

🩹 Use Trekking Poles – Poles help reduce impact by up to 25% on downhill descents, taking pressure off the knees.

⬇️ Go Slow on the Downhills – Steep downhill slopes are the hardest on your knees. Use a zig-zag technique instead of going straight down to minimize impact.

🧘 Stretch Before & After Hiking – Focus on stretching hamstrings, quads, and calves to keep the knee joint flexible.

If knee pain is recurring, PRP therapy, prolotherapy, or knee injections can help strengthen tissues and prevent chronic discomfort.

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