Happy Feet Happy Hike : The Ultimate Hiking Guide to Eliminate Foot and Ankle Injuries

In this book, I will teach you new, radical principles from the M.A.S.T.E.R. Your Body Method for preparing for your hike, avoiding injury, and treating a foot or ankle injury if it happens. We are questioning some old ways of thinking and replacing them with new, interesting, and effective ideas that will change how you move and your body feels. It is possible to be pain-free.This book is for all hikers, regardless of your experience level. It will give you the tools to prepare you for the physical rigors that lie ahead, whether it’s your first three-mile day hike or you have completed the triple crown – and for all levels in between.When a hike is broken down into steps, it becomes clear just how important it is to have your feet as healthy as possible and working as efficiently as possible for the duration of your hike. When walking millions of steps, it is critical to heal all injuries and train your body to prepare for the hike. The accumulation of even the smallest stress, limited motion, and tissue tension will quickly become a problem if not resolved.This book is different! It will NOT teach you traditional stretches and exercises that may have yet to be successful for you. Many injured hikers have relied on old techniques and methods that treat the symptoms, not the root cause of injuries. In preparing your body for the next hike, you must know that most injuries are preventable. You will learn how to transform your hiking experience – I hope to teach you the missing pieces using the M.A.S.T.E.R. Your Body Method.Identifying the root causes of injuries.Restoring ankle and foot range of motion.Correcting abnormal standing and walking patterns.Releasing painful trigger points.Training progressions if you have an injury and to prevent injury.This book will help you prepare for the trail in a clear, simple, step-by-step format designed to help you identify your current injuries and treat them. You will learn to be your own therapist and heal your own body! This book was initially intended to prepare long-distance hikers for an epic journey; however, it is necessary for anyone who plans to walk any distance.Since we all walk, who wouldn’t benefit from some foot fundamentals to establish an excellent foundation?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________Dr. Jessica Llach has been a physical therapist for 30 + years. She owned and ran Ankle & Foot Physical Therapy in Bakersfield, CA, for 17 years while raising her family. Her passion for getting people back on their feet to resolve foot and ankle pain started here. She moved to Big Bear Lake, CA, in 2020 and quickly fell in love with living in the mountains.One day while giving rides as a trail angel, she met her first group of Pacific Crest Hikers (PCT) hikers. She started treating the injured hikers and decided to start a mobile Physical Therapy Clinic called Thru Hiker Therapy. It just so happened that the foot and ankle physical therapist landed in the perfect location. Come to find out, the number one reason that hikers don’t finish their hike is due to foot and ankle injuries. Living at mile 266 of the PCT seems to be a match made in heaven. The perfect spot to treat injured hikers to get them back on the trail to complete this incredible journey! Jessica loves to hike and couldn’t think of a better group of people to be able to help with her foot and ankle expertise.Jessica graduated from Northeastern University with a BSPT and completed her doctorate program at St. Augustine. She completed the Feldenkrais Practitioner program and is certified in FMS and SFMA. Read more