How effective are ankle weights?

Sharon0523
Sharon0523 Posts: 22
in Fitness and Exercise
When walking or jogging, are ankle weights good for toning? Are they bad for you?

Replies

  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    the only people i've ever seen use this are unfit people, so my guess is no they arent good for anything.

    if you want extra weight it's probably better on your joints to wear a weighted backpack.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    Bad for you. If you really feel the need to add resistance, and buy a weighted vest. But I'm guessing you probably don't need that yet either. For now concentrate on trying to run faster and longer
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    Agree with the above, and just wanted to add that since people don't naturally carry extra weight isolated on that part of your body, wearing them alters your natural movement patterns and causes undue stress on the joints and supporting tendons. The muscles themselves can deal with those issues, but you need to be very careful with joints and tendons. Anything that changes your gait (that's not a correction of a problem) can lead to injury. They're not a good idea at all.

    Edit for typo.
  • Wonderob
    Wonderob Posts: 1,372 Member
    Huge increase on pressure on the foot too (increased centripedal force???)

    Plantar Fasciitis is much more likely for overweight runners - add some weights to your ankles and you would instantly join the high risk group!
  • Fozzi43
    Fozzi43 Posts: 2,984 Member
    The only time I use ankle weights is when I do leg raises.
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    I think you are risking injury unless you are using them for specific strengthening exercises - my physio suggested them when I had hip problems but only for particular exercises.
    There is no way I would use them when walking/jogging - that would be asking for trouble.
  • Wonderob
    Wonderob Posts: 1,372 Member
    The only time I use ankle weights is when I do leg raises.

    Handy emergency flood barrier? Keep a dozen handy in case your local river bursts it's banks
  • Fozzi43
    Fozzi43 Posts: 2,984 Member
    The only time I use ankle weights is when I do leg raises.

    Handy emergency flood barrier? Keep a dozen handy in case your local river bursts it's banks

    ??
    Don't follow?

    Or are you being rude? :laugh:
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    I used them to prepare for ice hiking and the additional weight of over boots ... As a necessity. Otherwise I would consider them a very bad idea - hip pain and gait modification were my result. But without them I would have had a hard time on my trek, I'd use them again (or the actual over boots) for prep for a polar trip.
    Jogging? Only if I wanted knee surgery.
  • LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo
    LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo Posts: 3,634 Member
    The only time I use ankle weights is when I do leg raises.
    I used to do that too before but it turns out that its not really necessary at all. If you want to tone your legs, squats, lunges & deadlifts are the only way to go.

    As for running or walking, its not safe to use ankle weights because as one poster mentioned it hinders the natural movement patterns of your lower body that can lead to injury. If you want to add challenge to your walks/runs, try walking or running uphill instead.
  • Fozzi43
    Fozzi43 Posts: 2,984 Member
    The only time I use ankle weights is when I do leg raises.
    I used to do that too before but it turns out that its not really necessary at all. If you want to tone your legs, squats, lunges & deadlifts are the only way to go.





    I do a combination of leg raises, squats, lunges and deadlifts :smile:
  • MyNewZen
    MyNewZen Posts: 101 Member
    Don’t use them!..

    I can’t say for sure but I think they are largely responsible for the tendinitis I developed in my ankles early this year. I was wearing them all day long under my jeans though...

    Talk to a physio therapist or exercise physiologist first before if you still want to give them a shot.
  • Wonderob
    Wonderob Posts: 1,372 Member
    The only time I use ankle weights is when I do leg raises.

    Handy emergency flood barrier? Keep a dozen handy in case your local river bursts it's banks

    ??
    Don't follow?

    Or are you being rude? :laugh:

    Oh heck, no not being rude! You found a use for your ankle weights, so I gave you another. In all honesty those bags of sand are really only good for using as flood barriers
  • Sharon0523
    Sharon0523 Posts: 22
    OK thanks to everyone for the insightful info. I learned quite a bit and really appreciate your advice.

    Keep reaching towards your goals, whatever they may be :)

    Sharon
  • Fozzi43
    Fozzi43 Posts: 2,984 Member
    The only time I use ankle weights is when I do leg raises.

    Handy emergency flood barrier? Keep a dozen handy in case your local river bursts it's banks

    ??
    Don't follow?

    Or are you being rude? :laugh:

    Oh heck, no not being rude! You found a use for your ankle weights, so I gave you another. In all honesty those bags of sand are really only good for using as flood barriers

    But I like them :tongue:

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