I've over 30 years of climbing and walking experience, but I've only recently started using trekking poles - to reduce knee pain when carrying heavy loads. I've recently sustained an injury which I think may be due to the use of poles, and wondered if anyone has experienced anything similar?
I was walking down a steep path from a crag, carrying a heavy sack of climbing gear, and using my poles on firm mud to steady myself. I accidentally stepped on a hidden wet tree root and my legs shot down the steep path. The poles stopped me falling further, but I felt a strange jolt through my spine, and a few hours later I started to experience pain in my (usually very healthy) lower back.
It's still causing me considerable discomfort 3 days later, and I'm wondering if it's some sort of whiplash injury from the poles, since I didn't actually hit the ground. I can't remember clearly, but it's possible that as the path was so steep, I had the heels of my hands on top of the pole handles, rather than gripping round them. Perhaps something to avoid in future?
Has anyone done anything similar? And if so, did it resolve itself or did you need medical / physio treatment?