Hiking
Walking on trails and varied terrain as endurance and confidence return.
What it helps
Walking varied terrain builds endurance, balance, and confidence as you return to the outdoors.
How to do it
- Start with short, flat trails.
- Keep a steady, comfortable pace and turn back while you still feel good.
- Build distance and add gentle inclines as comfort allows.
Tips
- Supportive footwear and trekking poles can help early on.
Commonly done as cleared.
Where this appears in recovery
Hiking is part of 28 recovery programs, most often at the long-term recovery (months 6–12), advanced recovery (months 3–6) and settling (weeks 6–26) stages, among others. Each program shows how it fits alongside the other movements:
- Tarsal Tunnel Release exercise guide
- Distal Fibula Fracture ORIF exercise guide
- Achilles Tendon Lengthening exercise guide
- Lapidus Bunionectomy exercise guide
- Subtalar Fusion exercise guide
- Cheilectomy (Big Toe) exercise guide
- First MTP Fusion (Hallux Rigidus) exercise guide
- Ankle ORIF (Trimalleolar) exercise guide
- Achilles Tendon Reconstruction exercise guide
- Bunionectomy (Double Osteotomy) exercise guide
- Triple Arthrodesis exercise guide
- Flexor Tendon Repair (Leg) exercise guide
- …and 16 more
All exercise guides · Condition guides · Recovery education
These are general exercise guides, not a personal prescription. The repetitions and frequency shown are what's commonly used — your own surgeon or therapist may advise something different, and their guidance comes first.