Heavy Boots = knee pain, lighter = not?

Just about everyone will get anterior knee pain ( ie around knee cap) if they do enough excercise to significantly fatigue their quadriceps. The lighter shoes may just delay the onset as you do a lot lwee work with them on.

First off, i like Trail Runners and 32oz or less light hikers (in my size i have a few pairs if light hikers that light and lighter).

Second, IME, most knee pain results from descents with the key muscles lengthening against the load (the eccentric portion of a muscular contraction) and not when shortening against the load (the concentric portion of a muscular contraction).

For decades now, it has been well known that it is the eccentric contraction that results in most soreness (and, BTW, most strength gains from weight/resistance/strenght training), hence much (not all) rehab PT involves isokenetic resistance exercises where resistance is only experienced when the load is actually moving and often (again, not always) there is resistance only during the concentric portion of the contraction.

The quads primary function is to extend the lower leg (which increases the angle of the knee joint). The muscles sometimes referred to by people as the hamstrings are the muscles involved in flexing the knee joint by reducing/decreasing the angle between the lower leg and thigh. The area around the knee is very complicated both structurally, involving ligaments, and dynamically, involving movement, and tendon origin and insertion points.

You need to try to determine if the discomfort is more joint pain, or soreness – both related to and exacerbated by use. See your Doc or an Orthodepic specialist (or a PT specializing in Sports Medicine, if your State laws permit them to take non-Doctor referred patients) – they will both ask questions about pain/discomfort history, and what makes it occur or become worse, as well as apply some resistance as they ask you to extend your lower leg, amongst other hands-on examination techniques to try to help determine the cause of the problem. From there, they can devise a rehab and/or training program to resolve your particular problem.

The previous poster’s point on conditioning is well taken. Gradually, increasing duration (short afternoon hike with a light day-pack and trail runners), and then gradually increasing intensity (heavier footwear, if that is really needed in your case – might not be, and heavier pack – light day pack first – or no pack at all if your injury is severe, progressing to full-on L/UL 15-30lb load) is the way to go.

Hope this info helps a bit.