Drink plenty of fluids, especially in hot or humid weather. Biomechanical problems can affect a walker's performance and increase risk for injury. Examples are a curved spine, differences in leg length, high arches, and excessive muscle tightness. A sign of this is abnormal shoe wear. The correct shoes can improve a problem.
Proper shoes can also reduce the risk for overuse injuries of the knees and ankles.
Terrain, weather, temperature, and air quality can affect a walker's safety and health. Avoid walking on muddy, wet, or icy surfaces. A fall or sudden twisting movement could cause a bad injury. Avoid brisk walking in hot or cold temperature extremes and when pollution levels are high. On-going and painful injuries should be medically evaluated.