W is for Walking Sticks

David Mendosa Living With It Medical Journalist Living with Diabetes and Author of Fitness and Photography for Fun, www.mendosa.com/fitnessblog After earning a B.A. with honors from the University of California,... Send Message Subscribe: David Mendosa

Thursday, August 09, 2007
View All of David Mendosa's Posts

Hike softly, carry walking stick. Those are two of the main maxims for the trail, whether or not you have diabetes.The latter is among the least observed. I just came back from three days of wilderness hiking in northern Colorado. In all that time I saw few people on the trails and a lot fewer even w...

Hide Comments | Add comment

Untitled Comment
Scott Johnson
Friday, August 10, 2007 at 12:10 PM

I too have taken to using a walking stick. Especially when out geocaching.

I feel strange if I get caught out hiking without my stick.

Thanks David!

W is for walking sticks
Brenda
Saturday, August 11, 2007 at 11:56 AM
Hi David, I wonder if you know of any walking sticks that are made especially for people with bad hands? I have had 1 surgery on my right hand and 4 surgeries on my left with 1 more coming up and my cane I use now really hurts my hands even with a padded handle. Thanks Brenda

re: W is for walking sticks
David Mendosa
Saturday, August 11, 2007 at 12:34 PM
Dear Brenda,

That's terrible! I'm sorry but I do not know of any walking sticks made especially for people with bad hands. But have you tried out those walking sticks or trekking poles made by Leki and others that use a wrist strap? With the wrist strap much of the pressure goes to the wrist, relieving the pressure on the hands.

re: re: W is for walking sticks
Brenda Taylor
Saturday, August 11, 2007 at 06:37 PM
Hi David, No I haven't tried those walking sticks or treking poles but 2 of the surgeries were on my wrists. Oh and by the way I love the byetta too since I have lost 20lbs since starting it 10 weeks ago.I have had a little trouble with heartburn with it but taking prilosec OTC with it has helped alot. Thanks Brenda

Untitled Comment
Monica Cohee
Saturday, August 11, 2007 at 04:25 PM

Hi David,
It does make sense to use a walking stick with hiking. And by sure you are the Guru of Hiking and should know the ins and outs of hiking for the novice.

I really can see your weight loss in your picture. You look great! I know you feel great too!

re: Untitled Comment
David Mendosa
Saturday, August 11, 2007 at 04:42 PM
Thank you. I really do feel great now that my weight has gone from 312 pounds to 180 pounds. Somehow, I do feel a bit lighter!

WALKING STICK ADJUSTMENT
Bob Schnorr
Monday, September 03, 2007 at 09:42 AM

When using a walking stick with a wrist strap, how high should it be?

re: WALKING STICK ADJUSTMENT
David Mendosa
Monday, September 03, 2007 at 10:21 AM
Dear Bob,

The official answer is that the height should be where your forearms are level. Further, they say that you should therefore shorten the stick or sticks when you are walking uphill and lengthen them when you are walking downhill.

I never bother to make the adjustments for going up or down, because so few of the trails that I hike keep going up or down consistently for long. Other people whom I have talked with don't do that either. But it's certainly not a bad idea, if you have the patience for it.

My problem is my shoulder, and having the trekking poles set that way put too much pressure on my shoulders. After all, they are intended to put some pressure on them rather than on your legs. So when my massage therapist had the brilliant insight that my shoulder pains would go away if I shorted the trekking poles (about 3" each), the shoulder problem almost miraculously disappeared.

My recommendation for you, then, is to follow the standard, official advice, unless you have shoulder problems.

Good hiking!