I read that the proprioceptive stabilizing effect of having your upper body in control with hiking sticks means that the knees need to work 10% less hard. On a 20 mile day that may be the equivalent of saving 2 miles of work.
Hiking sticks aren't proprioceptive, they are a substitute for proprioceptive stabilization. Trained balance weighs less and is still available after you have set up your ultralight tent.
The UIAA MedCom suggests them for the old, fat, ill, and over packed and not as a full time practice for others:
http://www.theuiaa.org/upload_area/files/1/UIAA_MedCom_Rec_No_11_Hiking_sticks_2008_V1-2.pdfDale B. Dalrymple
I don't think Harvey wrote that Hiking sticks were proprioceptive. They have a proprioceptive
stabilizing effect. To me that means the muscles used to keep me upright and balanced can relax some when I use hiking poles.
And yes, trained balance weighs less, but the overall effect of carrying hiking poles so the balance is easier to maintain results in less cumulative wear on the body.
In the referenced "Consensus Statement", it recommends hiking sticks for the situations DBD named, but it ALSO reports benefits in general.
I used to be a hiking pole snob -- couldn't imagine why people needed them. Then I tried a pair, about the time age started to wear me down. Now, I really like to use them, finding they do make hiking just a bit easier.
And by the way, congratulations to Josh P, who signed up and started this thread, for tipping the number of registered users to 1000!
