Knee surgery

[emily_in_nc]

I asked about using 2 sticks as some I've seen do but he very strongly told me to just use one. Good news, I will take it!

Curious as to his reasoning. We have long used two hiking poles when hiking on hilly terrain and find them very helpful. Not sure why one would be better than two?

[Catrin]

My current problem is quad strength, he thinks it will take longer for me to get it back if I use two...I need to think about this. Perhaps two of them would make my leg work less and be too much of a crutch? He wants me to walk on hilly pavement during the week and hit the woods on the weekend.

I do also wonder if he is really thinking I might go to overly aggressive trails with two poles and get myself in trouble? Right now that can be quite easily done, Saturday proved that. Then again, how can I gain strength in that leg if I don't push the boundaries a bit?

[Pax]

I was curious about that as well, I can see overdoing it if you used both, but I really like the balance aspect on uneven terrain.

[Catrin]

I was curious about that as well, I can see overdoing it if you used both, but I really like the balance aspect on uneven terrain.

I'm still thinking about this one. If my quad strength is the problem when I get on a slight decline with uneven terrain, wouldn't two be better than one for support? I don't need excuses to overdo things, the number of sticks won't make any difference. I AM doing all I can on leg strength but it is slow coming.

I am also thinking my hands might prefer the smaller trekking poles than my thick hiking stick. I won't decide right away but it is food for thought.

[OakLeaf]

You might ask your doctor specifically what he had in mind??

Instinctively I can see it, having spent most of my college years with doctors telling me to "just stay off" my knee rather than rehab it, which in those days was pretty much unheard of. On a narrow staircase (two hand support) I could go up and down to my fourth-floor dorm room without ever putting weight on my bad knee. Single sided support (wider staircases) meant both legs got at least some use. With two poles, you almost have to use them for support, unweighting both legs - the alternative is to carry the poles sideways! With one, you'll switch it hand to hand, for balance only.

Glad you're continuing to heal.

[emily_in_nc]

Catrin, after reading this, I am wondering if your doctor is just not very knowledgeable about hiking poles? Sounds like using just one might cause more harm than good:

http://adventurebuddies.net/blog/201...-than-one-yes/

That's just one link of many I found from googling...you can do further research, of course, but this article was very convincing.