Stock photo
Autumn is the perfect season for hiking—clear skies, distant views, not only refreshing the mind but also strengthening the body. However, hiking is not suitable for everyone. Recently, the Rehabilitation Department of Xiangyang Railway Central Hospital in Hubei Province treated several patients who experienced joint pain due to excessive hiking. Doctors remind that hiking should be done within one’s limits, and four particular groups of people should be especially cautious about climbing.
First, some chronic disease patients should avoid hiking. In addition to those with heart disease and hypertension, other chronic conditions such as joint pain, chronic nephritis, kidney disease, blood disorders, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary heart disease, diabetes with complications, gout, lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, rheumatic diseases, and liver cirrhosis also make hiking inadvisable. Even if chronic disease patients choose to hike, they should take it slowly and not push themselves to reach the summit.
Second, middle-aged individuals who do not exercise regularly should not suddenly engage in intense hiking activities. Middle-aged people are a unique group, bearing the dual responsibilities of work and family. They are often busy with career and life, rarely exercise, and generally have weaker physical fitness and tolerance. Suddenly engaging in strenuous hiking increases activity levels and physical strain dramatically, which can easily trigger cardiopulmonary diseases.
Third, physically frail elderly individuals and those with cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases should avoid hiking. As people age, the functions of various organs gradually decline. Hiking is a high-oxygen-consuming activity that requires substantial physical exertion, which can increase the heart's workload in the elderly, potentially triggering illnesses—especially in those with chronic coronary insufficiency, for whom hiking is unsuitable.
Fourth, patients with joint diseases should avoid hiking. For example, those with lumbar spinal stenosis may find that the backward shift of their body’s center of gravity when descending causes the lumbar spinal canal to narrow more than usual, aggravating lower back and leg pain. People with osteoporosis, due to calcium deficiency leading to impaired coordination among nerves, muscles, ligaments, and joints, are prone to ankle sprains or cramps while descending. Elderly individuals with poor joint health experience additional knee joint strain during hiking, which can worsen cartilage wear, even damage bone tissue, resulting in symptoms like joint swelling and pain.
Always perform proper warm-up exercises before hiking; avoid excessive intensity while climbing, and take a short rest every 20 minutes or so. In cold weather, consider wearing a knee brace and stay warm.