Is Skateboarding Bad For Your Knees? (Complete Guide)

No doubt, skateboarding is a fun, enjoyable, and stylish activity. However, for some, it’s not all fun and games. In fact, for some, skateboarding can be downright painful – especially for beginners in the knees.

Many skateboarders believe their beloved activity is bad for their knees or other body parts. Is this true? Does skateboarding ruin your knees?

In this article, we’ll answer whether is skateboarding bad for your knees or not and take a closer look at the risks and rewards of this popular activity. In addition, we’ll provide some tips on how to avoid such knee pain and injury while skateboarding.

If your feet also pain, you can learn here why do my feet hurt when I skateboard.

Is Skateboarding Bad For Your Knees?

The simple answer is it depends on your riding style and how you land your tricks. According to research and interview with top skateboarders, it seems that if you regularly land on your heels or have weak joints, then skateboarding can be bad for your knees. Also, most of the knee injuries we see in skateboarders are due to falling off the board.

When you fall off your skateboard, you’re more likely to land on your knees and hands than any other body part. This can cause what’s known as an “impact injury.” Impact injuries are caused by a sudden force or impact on the body, such as falling off your skateboard and landing on your knees.

Symptoms of an impact injury can include pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty moving the affected body part. Impact injuries usually recover within a few weeks with rest, ice, and over-the-counter pain medications. However, in some cases, an impact injury can lead to long-term problems, such as arthritis.

In short, skateboarding can be bad for your knees if you regularly land on your heels or have weak joints. Otherwise, if you land on your board correctly and don’t fall often, skateboarding is unlikely to cause knee problems.

How to Avoid Knee Pain and Injury While Skateboarding

There are a few things you can do to avoid knee pain and injury while skateboarding:

Wear Knee pads: If you wear knee pads while skating, you’ll be less likely to experience pain or injury if you fall. The padding will help absorb some impacts and reduce the risk of cuts and bruises.

Don’t land on your heels: When you land tricks, try to land on the balls of your feet rather than your heels. This will help reduce the impact on your knees and minimize the risk of injury.

Strengthen your legs and joints: Stronger legs and joints are less likely to be injured in the first place. So you can strengthen your legs and joints by doing exercises such as squats and lunges. You can also try balance exercises, such as standing on one leg or walking on a beam.

Practicing To Fall: Yes, you read that correctly. Practicing to fall may sound counterproductive, but it can actually help reduce the risk of injury. If you know how to fall correctly, you’re less likely to injure yourself. To practice falling:

• Find a soft surface, such as grass or a foam mat.
• Fall forward, backward, and to the side.
• Try to land in a way that minimizes the impact on your body.

How Skateboarding Affects the Knees

There is no doubt that skateboarding puts a lot of stress on the knees. The constant bending, jumping, and twisting can take a toll over time. In addition, when you land tricks incorrectly or take a fall, the impact can damage the knee joint, cartilage, and ligaments.

However, it’s essential to keep in mind that not all skateboarders will experience knee problems. In fact, many skateboarders ride for years without any issues. It depends on your skating style, how often you fall, and whether you land correctly or not.

This is what makes your knees affected when skating. Now that you know how skating can negatively and positively affect your knees let’s look at some common knee injuries that can occur from skateboarding.

Common Knee Injuries Skateboarders May Face

Several common knee injuries can occur from skateboarding, including:

Knee sprains: A knee sprain occurs when the ligaments that support the knee joint are stretched or torn. This can happen if you fall and twist your knee awkwardly. Symptoms of a knee sprain include pain, swelling, and bruising.

ACL injuries: The ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is a ligament that stabilizes the knee joint. An ACL injury can occur if you land awkwardly from a jump or take a fall. Symptoms of an ACL injury include severe pain, swelling, and instability in the knee joint.

Patellar dislocation: The patella (kneecap) is a small bone that sits in front of the knee joint. A patellar dislocation occurs when the patella is pushed out of place. This can happen if you fall directly on your kneecap or twist your knee while it’s bent. Symptoms of a patellar dislocation include severe pain, swelling, and bruising.

These are some of the common knee injuries that skateboarders can experience. If you think you’ve injured your knee, it’s important to see a doctor right away and get some rest.

Can skateboarding hurt your knees?

Yes, if you don’t know how to fall correctly or land your tricks properly, you can put a lot of stress on your knees, which can lead to pain and injury.

Is skateboarding bad for your health?

Despite some risks, skateboarding is generally considered a safe and healthy sport. However, as with any physical activity, there is always a risk of injury.

How do I strengthen my knees for skateboarding?

You can strengthen your knees for skateboarding by doing exercises such as squats and lunges. You can also try balance exercises, such as standing on one leg or walking on a beam.

Is skateboarding good for your joints?

Skateboarding is good for your joints because it helps strengthen the muscles and ligaments around them.

Why do my knees hurt after skating?

Your knees may pain after skateboarding because of the constant stress that is being put on them. It’s essential to take breaks often and to stretch your muscles before skating as it helps prevent pain and injury while skating.

Pro Tip: If you ride on rough roads and bumps, you should also master how to go over bumps on a skateboard, as it also affects the knees and other body parts.

Conclusion

If we conclude the article by answering the question in short, ” Is skateboarding bad for your knees ?” The answer would be that it all depends on how you skate, how often you fall, and what kind of surface you’re skating on. If you take proper precautions by wearing knee pads, learn to fall safely, and warm up before skating, the risk of knee injury is relatively low.

However, if you don’t take these precautions, you’ll likely experience a knee injury. So it’s always important to be aware of the risks before you start skating. Thanks for reading!