Hiking for fitness is a sport loved by many.
According to statistics from the Mass Sports Department of the General Administration of Sport of China, hiking has become one of the top ten most popular sports among the public. From 2003 to 2008, the General Administration of Sport of China and the Chinese Mountaineering Association held the National Mass Fitness Hiking Conference every year.
More than ten cities have applied to host the event. On April 10, 2003, the opening ceremony of the National Mass Fitness Hiking Conference and the Beijing Area Fitness Hiking Event was held in Beijing's Fragrant Hills Park. Subsequently, fitness hiking events were launched in places like Shandong and Sichuan.
However, just as you can't have your cake and eat it too, hiking also has its downsides; it puts significant strain on the knee joints. Due to gravity, compared to walking on flat ground, the pressure on the knees increases by four to five times.
This intensifies friction on the patella, meniscus, and joint surfaces, which can easily lead to injury. Especially for middle-aged and elderly people, bone density loss is inevitable with age. Therefore, once damage occurs, it is almost impossible to fully recover.
Many middle-aged and elderly individuals experience swollen, painful knees after hiking, sometimes even making it impossible to continue the activity—this is precisely why. Recently, there has been considerable media discussion about whether the elderly should participate in hiking, mainly due to concerns over knee joint wear.
How to enjoy the benefits of hiking while minimizing potential harm has become a concern. Researchers at the Science and Research Institute of the General Administration of Sport of China drew inspiration from an international sport called "Nordic Walking," and developed the “Walker” brand of Nordic walking poles.
Professor Cen Haowang from the Science and Research Institute of the General Administration of Sport of China, after using Nordic walking poles, stated: It is a brisk walking exercise that uses two poles. Compared to regular walking, using poles transforms lower-body movement into full-body movement, achieving simultaneous exercise for both upper and lower body muscle groups while reducing the load on the knee joints.
When walking on flat terrain, it allows for increased intensity, making it easier to achieve moderate aerobic exercise effects, avoiding the issue of low exertion and minimal results common in normal walking.
While hiking, the added use of upper body strength actually saves energy, reduces intensity, and prevents hikers’ heart and lungs from being overburdened. In addition, the increased support points not only effectively reduce knee joint pressure and protect them, but also help prevent falls, making the hike safer.
The Science and Research Institute of the General Administration of Sport of China has formed a “Nordic Walking Team,” using their self-developed Nordic walking poles for hiking activities. Practice over the past year has proven that these poles are highly effective in protecting knee joints during hiking and extending the duration of people’s hiking years.