[at-l] sticks???-silly question

[watuwando2@cs.com (watuwando2@cs.com)]

I want to thank everyone that has responded to my question! I'm sorry I have not responded earlier but my home computer is out of commission at the moment (it may be for several moments!) and I am left with checking my email while at work when I have the time.

Great responses and I am going to start practicing walking correctly!

amy


William Neal <nealb@midlandstech.com> wrote:

>I checked out the site and it looks good.  But may I add my comments? ;-)
>
>It's the repetitive motion and not necessarily the strain that activates any
>of the repetitive motion syndromes.  Even "gentle" motions can kick off RMS
>like carpal.  Hitting keys on a keyboard does not take a lot of pressure.
>And most of the best typists lightly hit the keys.  It's sitting a keyboard
>and frequently hitting the keys that gets to you.
>
>I have what I suspect is a RMS with my shoulder.  It matches all the
>diagnostic symptoms.  And it comes from reaching for a barcode scanner and a
>switchbox.  The angles I have to reach for them from where I sit is a bit
>unnatural, but I have to reach for them frequently.  Also, a "bump" to the
>shoulder (from where I often have to sit on the bus) has "tenderized" that
>area of the shoulder and made it more susceptible to RMS.  
>
>A friend of mine who is suffering from some kind of RMS (the docs have not
>decided which one) and a website have both suggested that stretching and
>exercise might help and/or prevent RMS before it gets too bad (my friend has
>been told to put in for Workman's Comp NOW in case it has to be operated
>on).  I think just using the poles as properly as possible and gripping at a
>natural height would prevent most of the injuries.  
>
>Also, throw in some stretching and ordinary exercises.  A good websearch
>would turn up some of them.  I found lots of pages when I looked a few weeks
>back.  Most are for office workers, but could be adapted to hiking.
>
>William, The Turtle
>
>PS  Once I was in a wreck.  I had so much back trouble it looked like
>that I was going on permanent disability.  So I walked with a cane for
>awhile.  I ditched the cane when I found that I could not walk with it
>without pain in my shoulder and hand.  It was the wrong height for me and I
>had to grip it weirdly.  I ended up making my own cane and things got
>better.
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Papa Bear [mailto:papa_bear_nyc@yahoo.com]
>Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2002 1:50 PM
>To: watuwando2@cs.com; "At-L@Backcountry. Net"
>Subject: Re: [at-l] sticks???-silly question
>
>
>If you use sticks (e.g. Lekis) you don't grip the pole!  You rest your hand
>on the strap and you just use a finger and thumb to hold the pole lightly.
>The pole then swings from momentum, not from gripping it.  It's a trick you
>need to practice, but once you do there will be much less muscle strain.
>When I get tired I find myself gripping the pole, and when I realize that, I
>relax, rest my palm on the strap and my arms relax nicely.
>
>There is a nice web site showing this technique that someone (I think OB)
>sent me:
>http://www.personal.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/poles.htm
>
>Pb
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <watuwando2@cs.com>
>To: ""At-L@Backcountry. Net"" <at-l@backcountry.net>
>Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2002 2:37 PM
>Subject: RE: [at-l] sticks???-silly question
>
>
>> Silly question but I was wondering if anyone has ever had a problem with
>carpal tunnel syndrom and constantly gripping the stick/pole?
>>
>> amy
>>
>
>
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