From the Editors

While uphill hiking taxes your cardiovascular system, downhill trekking causes the true muscular damage. As your quads and shins act as shock absorbers, eccentric loading strains joints and soft tissue. Physical conditioning for descents requires training the body to absorb impact and stabilize each step. By practicing heel-elevated squats, lateral step-downs, and wall-assisted shin raises a few times a week, hikers can strengthen critical stabilizing muscles and descend trails with confidence and ease.