An exercise physiologist says more injuries occur when walking downhill than uphill—here’s why and what you can do to avoid them
Walking uphill is tough. Whether you enjoy hiking and seek out inclines or just live in a hilly area, you probably find yourself reaching the summit sweaty and out of breath—no matter your fitness level. But according to Milica McDowell, a doctor of physical therapy, it’s actually going downhill that could be the trickiest part of your walk, because this is where most walking-related injuries occur. Downhill walks may be less challenging on the cardiovascular system, but they require us to employ our muscles in a different way than when we’re moving uphill. Article continues below You may like “Going downhill requires that you’re managing your bodyweight, and the additional effects of gravity on your bodyweight,” says McDowell, who also works as an exercise physiologist. “This is more demanding than going uphill. “When we are going downhill, our muscles are in what we call an eccentric contraction, which means the muscle is actually lengthening while we’re doing the activity.” “Most exercises that individuals commonly participate in focus on concentric contractions, which are where the muscle …
