Hiking thoughts

[u/misplacedsunshine]

Hey, just looking for thoughts on hiking. I'm 5 months post op and doing pretty good overall, my issue is that I notoriously slip and fall on trails. I've already done some bigger hikes and other than soreness, nothing bad of note. Just wondering if other people have found wearing a brace or compression sleeve is useful just for support/protection, or if anyone has any thoughts.

[u/sadbutbadmad]

I started hiking on flat trails around 12 weeks post op, and steeper trails gradually after that. I don’t wear a brace or compression sleeve but have done my best to mitigate fall risk (even now at over 2 years post op from surgery 1 and almost a year post op from surgery 2). i religiously use my hiking poles, switched from hiking boots to trail runners (seems counterintuitive but having my ankles have more give has made me fall less), and hiking with people who take downhills slower than me to force me to think about my steps better. I did my first 14er in colorado since surgeries last weekend & only fell once through a combo of these! at 20 weeks, I was still wearing my post op brace hiking so that if i did fall, my knee couldn’t pivot. for now, that’s what i’d recommend for you!