Depending on your favorite skating style and terrain, you may be putting too much stress on your knees. While some skaters enjoy low-impact maneuvers on smaller obstacles, others prefer to jump down large sets of stairs and grass gaps. Improper foot placement while landing a trick could result in painful knee injuries.
Street Skating
While street skating is one of the most prominent riding styles, it is also one of the most dangerous. Street skateboarders are known for performing airborne tricks on urban obstacles such as handrails and handicap ramps. Bailing from a trick will cause your knees to absorb the full impact of the aerial jump. This can lead to serious injuries such as a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Soreness in the knees is common after a long day of street skating.
Manual Skating
Manual skating is one of the most low-impact forms of riding. Many older skaters prefer this genre as it puts little to no stress on the joint of your knees. According to Transworld Skateboarding, manual riders perform balancing maneuvers on man-made obstacles that sit low to the ground. Practicing your manuals will actually strengthen your knee and leg muscles over time. If you've ever had a knee injury, manual skating may be the riding discipline for you.
Ramp Skating
While landing on the inclined walls of the skateboarding ramp will put little stress on your knees, bailing from a trick may cause torn ligaments and painful sprains. Vert skaters use a specialized bailing technique that involves sliding down the ramp on your knees. Ramp skaters generally wear a pair of knee pads to ensure a smooth slide and help prevent scrapes and bruises. Even with the added protection, sliding on your knees may cause your muscles to bend too far.
Knee Protection
Wearing a pair of specialized skate shoes will help decrease the amount of stress you put on your knees. Most shoes designed for skateboarding are equipped with a foam-injected insole. Certain companies offer insoles that feature a gel insert for increased heel protection. When landing a high-impact trick, the cushioned insoles protect your knees by absorbing the shock. According to the STI Lab, certain shoes feature a shock-absorbent airbag built into the midsole.
