Posts

Showing posts from May, 2012

Choosing Trekking / Walking Poles

Image
Choosing Trekking / Walking Poles As an advocate of poles and professional walking guide I get the chance to lead many people in the hills and mountains of Britain and Europe.  The vast majority of serious walkers are these days already using poles, there is a reason for this: “A 2010 study by UK-based Northumbria University shows that using trekking poles reduce muscle damage and soreness in the days following a hike. The combined benefits of using trekking poles in reducing load to the lower limbs, increasing stability and reducing muscle damage also helps avoid injury on subsequent days of trekking, according to Dr Glyn Howatson. Trekking poles can also reduce the compressive force on the knees by up to 25%, according to The Journal of Sports Medicine in a 1999 study.” The advantages of using trekking poles are: 1.            Extra stability  on difficult or loose terrain If you walk off path or in the mountains where there is scree and steep slopes to negotiate, poles