Do you enjoy hiking? Myself and many of my patients do! We are so fortunate in Kamloops and the surrounding areas to have such amazing trails to explore! As a physiotherapist, I often see patients who may experience pain or discomfort in their joints, especially their knees, hips, and back while hiking. Hiking poles can be a useful tool to help reduce the impact on these joints, improve balance and stability, and increase endurance.
Hiking poles, also known as trekking poles, are designed to provide support and stability while walking on uneven terrain. They are usually light weight, with a comfortable grip, and a tip made of rubber, carbide, or steel to match certain terrains.
They offer many different benefits for hiking. Here are some of the main advantages:
- Reducing Impact on Joints: When you walk with hiking poles, you transfer some of the impact of each step from your legs to the poles, which can help reduce the stress on your knees, hips, and back. This can be particularly helpful when hiking downhill, where the impact can be especially hard on your joints.
- Improving Balance and Stability: Hiking poles can help you maintain your balance on uneven terrain, such as rocks, tree roots, and loose gravel. They can also help prevent slips and falls, which can be particularly dangerous when hiking on steep trails or near cliffs.
- Increasing Endurance: Using hiking poles can help you maintain a steady pace and reduce fatigue. By using your arms to help propel yourself forward, you can conserve energy and hike for longer distances.
- Improved gait: Especially for downhill walking, I find hiking poles allow you to keep your weight forwards without the subconscious fear of falling forwards. This prevents leaning too far back and using too much quadriceps muscle, which can lead to soreness afterwards.
When choosing hiking poles, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, you want to make sure the poles are the right length for your height. You can adjust the length of most hiking poles, so make sure to test them out and adjust them to your comfort level. Secondly, you want to make sure the grip is comfortable and fits your hand well. Lastly, you want to consider the terrain you’ll be hiking on and choose a tip that is appropriate. For example, if you’ll be hiking on icy or snowy terrain, you may want to choose a pole with a carbide tip.
In conclusion, hiking poles can be a useful tool for hikers looking to reduce the impact on their joints, improve balance and stability, and increase endurance. As a physiotherapist, I recommend trying them out on your next hiking adventure and adjusting them to your comfort level. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to speak with your physiotherapist or a hiking specialist for more advice. Happy hiking!
Tim Schmidt works at our Valleyview clinic location. If you would like to book an appointment with Tim, you can book online here, or call 250-314-0788.