Now that summer is in full swing, it's the perfect time to enjoy the great outdoors. But what if your knees start acting up? Outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, running, or even gardening can be hard on seasoned knees. Luckily, you don't have to miss out on the great outdoors. Discover how Chinese reflexology can help strengthen your knees to prevent injury and pain.

Recently I was hiking in Yosemite with family and friends. We did a two-hour hike up to the top of Sentinel Dome. The way up was relatively easy and we were rewarded with breathtaking views of the park. Then, it was time to go down.

It was a challenge for me because my fear of heights kicked in just as I started picking my way down the steep rocky dome. However, as I continued down the rest of the trail, I noticed other people were finding the descent challenging, too—only they weren't scared of the heights. They were complaining about how hard it was on their knees.

After we returned to the campsite, the kids were still full of energy and scrambling up and down rocks. Meanwhile, the grown-ups were seated by the campfire and swapping stories about knee injuries. Do you ever wonder why people's knees act up with age? Why do the passing years make your knees more prone to injury and chronic pain?

4 Step Foot Massage for the Knees

Fortunately, there is a way to counter the effects of aging on your knees. Massaging the Chinese reflexology point for the knee increases the flow of qi and blood to your knees, and this helps strengthen the joint and promote healing.

1. To locate your knee point, reach down toward the outer edge of your foot. The Chinese reflexology point for the knee is a circle that's slightly larger than the width of your thumb. Feel along the line where the skin meets the sole, and you'll notice a slight indent just in front of your heel. That's where your knee point is located.

2. To massage this point, press into it with the knuckle of your index finger. Then massage with a back and forth motion going up toward your toes and down toward your heel. Because the skin on the side of your foot is more delicate than the sole, apply a lubricant such as massage oil or moisturizer to reduce friction so that the skin doesn’t get irritated.

3. The reflexology point on your left foot corresponds to your left knee, and the point on the right foot corresponds to the right knee. You can massage this point for 30 to 60 seconds whenever you feel a weird twinge in your knee, or if you have knee pain and want to help your body heal faster. You can massage this point up to three times a day.

4. For chronic knee pain, it would be very beneficial to also massage your Kidney point. This point is a bit more complicated to explain, but you can find detailed instructions in my new book, Sole Guidance: Ancient Secrets of Chinese Reflexology to Heal the Body, Mind, Heart, and Spirit, as well as in the free online lessons available on my website at www.ChineseFootReflexology.com.

How Age Affects Your Knees

In Chinese Medicine, the health of your knees depends on the health of your Kidneys and their associated energy meridian. The Kidneys store your qi (life force energy). They're like a cell phone battery storing the energy for your entire life.

As the years pass, you use up the qi in your Kidneys—this is perfectly natural and normal. However, things like stress, poor nutrition, and pushing yourself too hard will deplete your energy stores much more quickly.

When the energy stores are low, this affects the function of the Kidneys. In Chinese Medicine, it is said that the Kidneys "govern the bones." They play a critical role in maintaining the health and structure of your bones. Because the knee joint is one of the largest joints in your body, if the Kidneys are weak, then the bones in the joint weaken, and this is what leads to chronic knee pain.

And now that you have this newfound knowledge, don't let the fear of knee pain stop you from enjoying the great outdoors. So go outside and have some fun!