My daughter sprained her knee 2 weeks ago, and thinks she can go on a hike next week. She is getting better from said sprain, but she still whines about using stairs and how she can't bend her knee all the way at dance yet, and thinks that she'd be just fine hiking. Sorry, but no. She sprained it at gymnastics, which she has not been back to yet because that is just too high impact right now, but going to dance is good for getting her to use her knee without too much risk as long as she doesn't push it too hard.