December 1, 2022 • 6 min read
Walking With Sticks: Benefits for Health & Weight Loss
Published on December 1, 2022 |
Update on October 18, 2023
NASM Personal Trainer, NASM Fitness Nutrition Specialist, ACE Sports Conditioning Specialist, NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist
Table of Contents
If you regularly walk as a part of your fitness program, you’ve probably seen people walking with sticks or trekking poles. You may wonder, “Why use walking sticks if you can easily walk without them?”
There can’t possibly be a ton of benefits of walking sticks, right?
Believe it or not, there are many benefits of walking with sticks. While they are obviously more beneficial for those who lack the mobility or muscular strength to walk on their own, they are still a useful fitness tool for anyone who enjoys walking or hiking.
The best part? They’re affordable, multi-functional, convenient, and highly accessible, making them perfect for a good walk or hike. With that said, let’s take a look at the many benefits of walking sticks.
Walking sticks are a multifunctional piece of equipment offering several unique purposes. Contrary to popular belief, walking sticks aren’t exclusively recommended for those who need them as a means of assistance.
The primary purpose of walking sticks is to reduce the load on the legs when hiking.
The purposes extend to the relief of joint strain, assistance in stability and maneuvering, and improved posture while walking, especially for people with an injury or weight issues.
Walking poles can also be used to enhance an upper-body workout, tone upper-body musculature, and burn more calories than otherwise possible without them.
We’ll discuss even more of the benefits of walking poles below!
Finding what works best for you will optimize your experience and allow you to reap the benefits of trekking poles.
Are you looking for ways to alleviate existing joint pain, particularly in the knees, or are you hoping to prevent it altogether?
Walking poles act to offset the load that’s traditionally placed on the lower extremities and transfer it throughout the entirety of the body, upper extremities included.
Not only will this reduce overall tension and stress on the knee joints, but it will also allow you to walk without any pain or discomfort in the area, thus improving overall performance and enjoyment.
Since walking poles involve your upper body in a standard walk or hike, you will inevitably burn more calories. Why? Simply because you engage more muscles and exert more effort.
Indirectly, walking poles may also encourage those who don’t walk at all to begin to do so, thus further promoting exercise and caloric expenditure.
Related article: I’m Walking a Mile a Day: Will I Lose Weight Soon?
Using walking poles while walking or hiking also helps build core strength.
Through every step or stride, while using trekking poles, the core is exponentially more engaged than it otherwise would be without trekking poles.
In other words, with each step or stride, you’re simultaneously contracting your abdominal muscles. Sure, it’s not going to be as intense as doing a sit-up or crunch, but engaging the core is going to support overall functional movement patterns.
Regardless of whether you have weight issues, walking or hiking for extended periods can cause physical and mental fatigue. During a bout of fatigue, one of the first things you stop paying attention to is your form and posture.
Walking sticks inevitably force the body to walk upright, ensuring your poor posture is corrected right away. This can also have residual effects on the relief of back, neck, and shoulder pain.
For those who struggle with balance and coordination, particularly when walking and hiking, walking poles can help improve both.
While walking, you may sway from one side to another. With the help of walking poles, you can counterbalance yourself, promoting an all-but-perfect walking form.
Over time, of course, your balance may improve so much that walking poles aren’t even necessary anymore.
Finally, for those currently on a weight-loss journey, you may spend much of your time on the treadmill.
While walking on the treadmill is a great form of exercise, experts encourage the addition of variability into your walking workouts. Exercising outdoors is a great way to do just that.
Aside from supporting your fitness journey, exercising outdoors comes with its own myriad health benefits, including improved mood, increased levels of vitamin D, and support of functional movement patterns.
Related article: Are Treadmills Bad for Your Knees?
Whether you’re taking them on a weekend hike or you plan on using them in everyday life for walking, there are several tips to consider when learning to properly use walking poles for optimal benefit.
If you’ve never used a pair of walking sticks before, it’s important to know beforehand that there is a quick and easy learning curve.
Walking poles are likely to present several initial challenges, mainly due to comfort and familiarity. Don’t give up right away when first using them!
It’ll take some trial and error to find the right fit. Adjust accordingly!
When walking or hiking, be sure to plant the pole ahead of each step and allow your foot to follow naturally.
Walk in a relaxed fashion; walking poles aren’t intended to impede your natural course of movement but rather enhance it.
When purchasing the right set of walking poles, there are several features to consider, including length, comfortable weight, straps, and convenient handles.
Simply put, if you enjoy walking or hiking as a cardio activity, you will benefit from using walking sticks.
If you’re looking to go the extra mile with the help of your very own walking sticks, check out WalkFit, a walking app that builds personal walking workouts and challenges and helps you improve your health and track your progress in real time!
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!