We'll just have to agree to disagree on that one.



I never said that poles give you undeveloped muscles. But they can lead to underdeveloped muscles. Allow me to elaborate:

The legs have many different muscles. Each has its own specific job to do. Some move you forward, or backward. Others keep everything in alignment. Without them your bones would move in many directions instead of the plane you want them to move in. The peroneus longus is a good example. Without it, your foot would roll inward much more easily. It stabilizes and balances the ankle joint every time you take a step. All the squats, calf raises and lunges in the world are not going to strengthen it much. It takes specific exercises.....or lots of walking, to strengthen it.

But when you walk with poles, they partially take over the job of the stabilizing muscles. The poles are now balancing you, not the muscles that nature intended. When a muscle isn't used, or used as much, it does not develop as it should.

There's a thread about rolled ankles around here somewhere. Read the remedies. I will go so far as to say that the overuse of poles is counterproductive to strong ankles. Not to mention hampering proper proprioception. Read up on any ankle strengthening drill involving proprioception. You do them by balancing, unaided, on one ankle at a time. Pole use is just the opposite. The poles do the balancing for you.

Believe me, I'm not pulling this stuff out of my a$$. I worked hands on in physical therapy for over four years. I'm no expert but I do have experience.