The Benefits of Using a Walking Pole
Today, many people see the benefit of walking poles and this is why it is growing in popularity. You should use a walking pole if you are going on a walking holiday, doing long and hilly walks.
If you use walking poles, your feet, legs, knees, and back will not feel so much stress. This is true because there is an even sharing of load with the walking pole across the whole body. This is especially true if you are carrying a heavy backpack.
Using walking poles has many other benefits. Your knees get protected when walking down steep hills, your balance is aided in uneven trails, your power and endurance are improved when walking uphill, your speed downhill is increased, your posture is improved and yours breathe easily, you burn more calories because of upper body and leg workout, you are provided with extra stability, your fatigue is reduced and your endurance improved, your muscles that support the spine are strengthened, and the muscles in your arms, neck, and shoulders are built.
If you are going to buy a walking pole, there are guidelines offered by manufacturers as to the right length for your height. There are those who say that the poles should be adjusted according to terrain. You need to lengthen your poles when descending and shorten it when ascending.
With long handles, walkers are able to move their hands up and down to either lengthen or shorten the poles according to the terrain.
The right length for a pole is that which allows your hand to lightly grip the handle while your arm is at a right angle to the ground. You will have your forearm parallel to the ground with bent elbows in this position.
It is good to add straps to your walking poles. This will allow you to walk with a looser grip and a more relaxed style.
Straps can be made better use of by placing your hand up through the strap and making a large O shape with your thumb and forefinger. Then slide it down around the pole handle.
It is not from your tight grip on the pole handle where the downward pressure applied to propel yourself forward is transferred but from the tension applied between the wrist and the strap.
The flow of your wrist, arm, and whole body movement extends to your poles as your stride along.
When traveling, make sure that your poles are shortened or folded up. Traveling can be much easier if your walking poles can be put inside your travel bag or attached to your backpack. Shorten your walking poles to make traveling easier.
There are many benefits to using a walking so on your next walking holiday, everyone should bring a pair along.