Ryan Jordan has suggested that as Pacerpole designer, I post this – and hopefully start a wider debate about how we can improve performance by having a better understanding of how we 'move'.
It may be helpful if other designers/pole manufacturers contributed their views, as poles are unusual in design terms. Instead of designing for example - a body's second skin to peel-off as clothing, poles are basically a temporary ''add-on'' body part to transmit arm-power without wasting it. This means disrupting our natural, evolved actions the least. Consider such things as the way our upper-arm moves in an arc as we run. The main emphasis of its arc is behind the trunk as it swings back - with comparatively less of the upper arm passing in front of the trunk. When walking it's the same arc-action but not quite so extreme; it doesn't go back quite as far or forward as far - so when integrating poles, our upper arm need go no further forward than vertical with the trunk.
Understanding what body mechanics is trying to do for best effect is an education process - and as such the reason for Ryan's suggestion to post the following e-mail correspondence we've had about pole reviews and open a debate for all to contribute. Bear in mind that our trunk now moves around a vertical axis, balancing the shoulders directly over the hips – and not in front of them; how our arms and legs (as levers) can balance, support and move a vertical trunk will influence our performance and endurance levels:


It is obvious that great care is taken for BPL Reviews – including the accurate recording of pole 'weights and measures', but getting weighed-down with the minutiae – and not questioning the bigger picture such as 'How can we move more efficiently by exploiting the arm's power more effectively?', seems to be where real scientific application has been missed. For example, never questioning - why DO we pull the body uphill with poles? Review ref: "When used to PULL myself up rough (even small obstacles) terrain ……".
It's generally understood from biomechanics of the body that the pull action is inferior to the push. In practical terms the body performs better when it can push itself along; this has already proved successful in the Review, when moving over ''flat to moderate terrain'', pushing against the handle-contours from behind.

From the Review text though, the reader would assume even though Pacerpoles are especially "nice" to use on flat to moderate ground, that somewhere around the more than "moderate" slopes, and probably the area which is of most interest to readers, the poles are dismissed - using BPL's original illustrated ''uncomfortable and unnatural" arm positions on steeper slopes (a result of the arm's leverage being placed out-in-front, in the habitual conventional pole position, which is one of the arm's comparatively LESS efficient angles in relation to raising the body up a slope, stride after stride).

Biomechanics for optimum leverage and support relates to the whole of the moving body; its centre of gravity – and positioning of lever pivot points on the ground in relation to this. The arm/pole does not work in isolation, but should integrate – so when analysing a movement, ideally the whole body should be viewed rather than isolated bits.
For steeper ascents: the following info sent to our Contact Us page recently with the reference to 'pushing on the arms of a chair' could be useful here:

Hi folks,
Here's what I posted about my first trip out with your poles:
http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/forum/forummessages/mps/dt/1/UTN/14490/last/1/V

/8/SP/

~~~
Just back from 25 miles and 3 Munros in Cairngorm NP. PacerPoles were great.

Walking on flat, they help push (not pull) me along. But, they also did the
same going uphill. Someone on an earlier thread described it like pushing on
the arms of a chair to help you get out of the chair. I got the reference
this weekend.

Also noticed that the poles work at a better angle on steeper slopes than
'conventional' poles.

I'm going to recolour the strings so I can tell quickly which pole is which
without referring to the wee plastic inset.
Duncan Macleod
_____________________________________________________________________
From the basic User Guide note not to shorten the poles from your personalised shaft height on an ascent or use the neoprene sleeve (unless on almost scrambling terrain). The neoprene sleeve is there for easier gripping when twisting the shaft-section, especially in wet weather - to encourage people to lengthen the shafts on steeper descents to improve performance. This longer shaft affects the geometry of the whole arm so that the upper arm can remain back, nearer to a vertical trunk allowing more effective use of shoulder-girdle muscles (to brace and improve stability of the arm and trunk moving downwards). See Background Info pages www.pacerpole.com which applies aspects of descent technique.


On an ascent your hands should be nearer the trunk to push down on - and not out in front pulling you up to where the slope is higher in relation to 'you' i.e. your-centre-of-gravity. Remember, the body has evolved its 'musculo-skeletal' system to move around a vertical axis, not a horizontal one encouraged by forward action of the arms in front of the body on poles.
Conventional pole manufacturers stipulate to shorten the shafts on an ascent. This practice has nothing to do with applying the arm's leverage to be in its most efficient position. It is because having the arm/pole higher up the slope ahead of the body is the only 'comfortable ' position available using conventional designs. The shorter shaft length is necessary to avoid the hands having to be raised even higher, as when the tips hit the ground ahead, the height differential between the body and the tip is significant. In repetitive leverage terms these poles are poorly placed to provide maximum effect. In addition this pull action encourages the trunk to tip forward, squashing the lower ribs and making breathing more difficult. More strain is also put on the postural muscles as the trunk insidiously dips forward, and so will be more tiring.
Using conventional design straps/poles nearer to the body's centre of gravity to maximise the push down action, proves to be awkward and uncomfortable. Instead, proper use of Pacerpole's handed handles allows the arm levers to push down more effectively to raise the trunk balanced around its evolved vertical axis.
Dynamic stability concerns the balancing of body segments on each other (our posture) - so that a vertical line passing through our centre of gravity (behind the navel) can fall within our effective base. Try walking upstairs (hands at your sides), whilst keeping erect with shoulders balanced over the pelvis, and then repeat the ascent leaning forward with the shoulders tipped in front of the pelvis; this may be helpful in understanding the basics of better body posture. The tipped forward posture is usually the one adopted by conventional pole users – which then relies on the forward pole to stop them feeling unstable. If this same posture is retained when using Pacerpole's push-down action nearer to the body, it will be unsatisfactory. To benefit from the push down action to raise the body up the slope, we need to be more aware of our overall body posture, and the effect it has on improving our performance as we move. Learning/understanding how to balance the whole body better to move more safely and effectively is the basis of Pacerpole research and use.

In March 2006, Steve Perry was summiting his 284th Winter Munro having backpacked a continuous route over the rest of the 283 Scottish 3,000ft mountains during the winter with his Pacerpoles. The first to achieve this epic. It can be confirmed that these are much steeper than any 'moderate' slope referred to in the Review. For this final summit Chris Townsend, John Manning, Graeme Burns – and Lorraine McCall were with him. All were using Left and Right Pacerpoles with their contoured, angled handles maximising on the push of arm-leverage to reach the summit. Age range 20's to 50's and between them - experience to take notice of.
Pacerpoles slogan ''Shaping the Future'' is not just about the contoured design of the handle shape and the rationale underpinning it – but about understanding the "Shaping" or "posture" of the body and its levers so that they are allowed to function better naturally.

It would be helpful to have your comments about the many points raised here – and any queries so I can help. The aim is to improve people's walking performance and endurance levels so that they can enjoy the-great-outdoor experience even more.''