| Love hiking but hate the price your knees pay for it | | | | planted on the ground, each pole has the ability to |
| later? Consider adding a hiking trekking pole or even a | | | | reduce the weight being carried by the legs and |
| pair of trekking poles to your gear. | | | | back, giving problem knees a break. Some studies |
| Trekking poles, also known as hiking or walking poles, | | | | show that using trekking poles can reduce the |
| resemble ski poles when assembled. Like ski poles, | | | | external and internal loads on the knee joint by up to |
| they have rubber padded handles, wrist straps and | | | | 20%. By reducing the force being put on the knee |
| baskets at the bottom of the pole. Unlike ski poles, | | | | joint, those with a history of knee pain can build up |
| they are made in several sections so that they can | | | | their strength while doing the least amount of harm |
| be lengthened or shortened as needed during a | | | | to an already problem area. A 1999 study in the |
| difficult hike. | | | | Journal of Sports Medicine stated that using poles on |
| Trekking poles are commonly used by hikers who | | | | a 25 degree downhill grade reduces the amount of |
| experience knee pain during or after a hike. When | | | | force being placed on the knees by as much as 25%. |