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International research* over the last ten years has

confirmed that the health and fitness benefits of

walking are substantially increased by the skilled

use of trekking or walking poles.

*Verified by more than 400 studies from universities,

institutes of sport and various medical/health

research establishments in Europe and the USA.

Informed health professionals and government

agencies are now encouraging people to use poles

when walking to increase cardiovascular benefits.

But there are many reasons to use trekking poles.

They actually provide the skilled bushwalker with

at least six significant benefits:

1. avoid injuries

2. reduce wear/damage to lower joints

3. prevent back pain/injury

4. increase exercise

5. improve posture

6. enhance the enjoyment of walking

Just using poles with common sense will provide a

few of these advantages, but some skill training is

required to gain ALL of the available benefits.

Why use trekking poles at all?

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START POSITIONWith wrist straps engaged and lightly holding the

grips, drop arms down by your sides allowing the

pole tips to rest on the ground behind you.

START WALKINGNow walk with the poles dragging along behind.

Try to ignore the poles - just get into your natural

walking rhythm - just let the poles follow along.

ARM SWINGWe all swing our arms in a natural balancing

rhythm that doesn’t change for pole walking.

Allow your arms to develop their normal swing

rhythm with the poles still dragging along behind.

LOAD UPNow begin to engage the poles by allowing the

pole tips to dig in as they come forward and by

pushing slightly back as each arm begins to swing

backwards. Continue to maintain your natural

rhythm. Gradually increase the push on the back

swing until you feel the poles propelling you

forward. Don’t load up excessively - just a little

weight on each backswing will add to the effort.

If, at any time, you become overly conscious of the

poles or feel slightly uncoordinated, just return to

dragging the poles along behind you without

loading them up. When the rhythm is right, start

loading up again. When you are walking with

loaded up poles to your natural rhythm, you have

the technique - it's that simple.

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