Do walking sticks help with knee pain?

Knee problems may strike at any age, and it might be argued that the younger you are, the more vital it is to take care of your knees. Modern walking poles resemble ski touring poles, and their use is growing in popularity across the world. By shifting your weight onto the poles through your arms, they give additional stability and can reduce the amount of stress on your legs and knee joints.

Walking poles, or simply a single-pole, can help to relieve knee discomfort while also increasing hill-climbing ability and endurance. They can also aid with balance when crossing soft or muddy ground, crossing rivers, scree running, and other sports that put your balance under stress.

However, because you are utilising your arms to absorb a lot of the load, one of the biggest downsides is that using them raises your total energy consumption. They can also clog up your hands-on difficult portions where you need to use your hands, such as ladders and short scrambling sections. Wrist straps are available on several pole designs, allowing you to let go if required without dropping them.

How to use walking sticks

It’s critical to grip the poles correctly and use the proper tactics if you want to get the most out of your walking poles. To begin, ensure sure the grip is comfortable for you. Thread your hand through the strap and hold the pole handle with the strap beneath your palm. To keep the hand secure, adjust the strap. You may now put all of your weight on the straps while keeping your grasp on the poles relaxed.

Another school of thinking holds that the straps should either be disregarded or removed entirely. This requires a tighter hold on the handle, but it allows you to swiftly drop the poles and take a handoff to get anything in your pack or use your map and compass.

The poles’ length may be precisely changed to fit your height and the activity you’re conducting. In general, for descents, extend the poles and for ascents, shorten them. Walking around the level or moderately sloping terrain should be approximately waist height, with the length adjusted until you are comfortable.

The most effective strategy is to align the poles with each step. Allow your arms to swing freely in their natural rhythm as you set the poles on the ground, then impart stress as you go through the step. Good methodology yields result rapidly. If your arms become tired, either your poles are too long or you are pushing the pole down instead of utilising a fluid flowing technique.

The majority of walking poles are handled in the same way, while Pacer Poles or comparable poles have a slightly different grip. Try on a couple of pairs in the store to discover which one you like most. Don’t worry if utilising the walking poles for the first day or two seems strange. You’ll rapidly get the hang of it, and the advantages will become clear.

Best types of walking sticks

There are a lot of excellent walking pole brands to choose from, and the weight, price, and other features such as handgrip angle and material, shock-absorbers, and baskets are all factors to consider.

The sort of walking you’ll be performing and how comfortable the poles are for you will be the most important factors to consider. You’ll want lightweight trekking poles for longer hikes, but you’ll also want to make sure they won’t crack or bend under a lot of weight. Shock-absorbent walking poles are superfluous, as they just add weight and complexity. Snow baskets are required in the snow, but they should be removed in the summer when they are not required.

Ryan Anderson

Hey, I am the founder of Outside Origin! I love hiking in my spare time and have gone to various different hikes. You can check out our about us section to learn more about what our team and I do over at Outside Origin.