Any 'deformities' caused by backpacking?
Posted: Apr 04 2023 2:19 pm
A few weeks ago, while making a short training hike (with a 25 lb backpack), my trekking poles were apparently set too low.
After my hike, both of my index fingers hurt. At the middle knuckle.
I looked at my index fingers and they were both curved 'down.' (Curved at the tips toward the rest of my fingers.)
I could grab them and kind of crack them back straight a bit.
Frankly, I don't know if my index fingers were curved before or not. (I mean, who looks at their index fingers?)
After the offending hike, I adjusted my poles taller, and, for a couple hikes afterward, I hiked with my index fingers extended.
The pain is 99% gone. But my index fingers still have a little curved to them, with a larger gap on my right hand. (As if I had arthritis? But I don't.)
So I'm wondering if anyone knows of permanent deformities caused by backpacking? (Aside from obvious major injuries caused by falls, etc.) Even if you're backpacking correctly.
For example, now that I had this problem with my fingers, I've started looking at my toes. One big toe seems curved toward its brother toes. But since I don't have any pictures of my toes, I don't know if this is a recent change or not.
After my hike, both of my index fingers hurt. At the middle knuckle.
I looked at my index fingers and they were both curved 'down.' (Curved at the tips toward the rest of my fingers.)
I could grab them and kind of crack them back straight a bit.
Frankly, I don't know if my index fingers were curved before or not. (I mean, who looks at their index fingers?)
After the offending hike, I adjusted my poles taller, and, for a couple hikes afterward, I hiked with my index fingers extended.
The pain is 99% gone. But my index fingers still have a little curved to them, with a larger gap on my right hand. (As if I had arthritis? But I don't.)
So I'm wondering if anyone knows of permanent deformities caused by backpacking? (Aside from obvious major injuries caused by falls, etc.) Even if you're backpacking correctly.
For example, now that I had this problem with my fingers, I've started looking at my toes. One big toe seems curved toward its brother toes. But since I don't have any pictures of my toes, I don't know if this is a recent change or not.
