backpackerPT

I am a writer, a physical therapist, and a hiker who is trying to find a way to not really have a day job, yet still pay my mortgage. And maybe buy a Subaru.

I read a lot of backpacking magazines and participate in a lot of backpacking communities, and amidst all the talk of gear and cooking and ultralight vs superultralight and trails I noticed that no one really talks about hiking injuries, how to prevent them, and how to get back on the trail once you have them.

So I’d like to fill in some of those gaps as best as I can.

I am a licensed physical therapist in Illinois, a board certified orthopedic clinical specialist, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists. I have hiked to Mount Everest, around the amazing beauty of Torres del Paine in Patagonia, into the high country of Wyoming, with the crowds of the White Mountains, through the tundra of Alaska and among the rivers and forests and Great Lakes all over the midwest.

And yes, I took that picture; I did not get it off the internet. It’s Glacier Grey in Torres del Paine, Patagonia, Chile, taken in February 2012, just after the big fire that closed the park. Eerily beautiful…

Disclaimer: The content of backpackerPT.com is not intended as a substitute for care from a physical therapist or other health care professional. If you experience signs or symptoms of injury, disease, or illness you should seek the advice of a licensed physical therapist or other health care professional. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only, and should not substitute for the advice, diagnosis or treatment of a health care professional familiar with your specific conditions and needs; it should also not suggest a course of treatment for a particular individual. Individuals should always consult with a health care professional for answers to personal health questions.