Researchers at Northumbria University in Great Britain reported in June 2010 that using trekking poles can "significantly reduce muscle damage during mountain walking." If you add to that the fact that using trekking poles will help you keep your balance and reduce falls, you'll conclude that there is no reason not to use them. Learning proper techniques to use trekking poles and to make use of all their features will get you started.
Holding Your Poles Correctly
Slip your hands up through the bottom of the fabric loop on each pole so it dangles from your wrist. Then grab the handle. This method ensures that your pole will still be with you if your grip loosens during a fall or when you're distracted by taking a picture. Outdoorplaces.com recommends that you hold your poles lightly so that your hands don't get tired.
Using Your Poles
To gain the most benefit for keeping your balance and taking weight off your knees, plant your pole ahead of you before stepping off. Outdoorplaces.com explains that simply swinging your poles with every second or third step isn't giving you traction or reducing strain on your joints and knees.
Up, Down and Rock-Hopping
The best poles are the kind that telescope up and down. When descending, lengthen your poles to reach the lower step or incline, which will help take the stress off your knees. When you are climbing, shorten your poles so you can rely on them to lean on, or as outdoorplaces.com puts it, to "gain more power with each step."
Use your poles as a balancing aid as you step from rock to rock in a stream bed. In this case, adjust your poles to be slightly longer than the length they are when held with your forearms parallel to the ground.
Removing Your Poles
Always put safety first by freeing your hands when climbing or descending rocky cliffs. It's tempting to just let your poles dangle while you maneuver your way up and down, but they can get in your way. A better procedure is to stow them in your pack or hand them down to another person so you can concentrate on the task at hand.
Leaving No Trace
Jeffrey Marion, Teresa Martinez and Robert Proudman, authors of "Trekking Poles: Can You Save Your Knees and the Environment?" advise hikers to be aware that trekking poles can cause damage to the trail and can bring unwanted noise to the serenity of a trip. They offer a number of tips to reduce the negative impact of poles. Telescope your poles down and strap them onto your pack when walking on flat terrain and remove the pole baskets to reduce environmental impact. Baskets are only needed in soft snow where tips would otherwise penetrate. Use rubber tips instead of metal tips to minimize noise. Try to adjust the way you use your poles to avoid harming vegetation and soils; try lifting them instead of planting them in a delicate area or directly on a wildflower or shrub.
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