Ankle Weights

Ankle weights have become a symbol of the exercise revolution. People are more likely to exercise and the rising popularity of such shows like: Biggest Loser, Celebrity Weight Club and Weighing In have added to the workout craze. These shows help inspire people all over the world to shed unwanted weight and take back their life. Not everyone needs to lose drastic amounts of weight. Some people just need a good cardio workout and ankle weights are a great tool to assist anyone in their workout regiment but they are not for everyone. Let’s take a look and see the pros and cons concerning ankle weights.

What Are Ankle Weights?

The first thing that is important is to know exactly what ankle weights are. They really are what their name implies, weights that go around the ankle. The purpose of these weights is to strengthen legs and ankles as well as to provide resistance for runners and walkers. Ankle weights come in a variety of weights. There are weights ranging from 1 pound all the way to 10 pounds. There are heavier weights but generally those higher weights are used by martial artists or for rehabilitation purposes and are harder to find. Ankle weights can also be purchased at almost any regular store such as: Wal-Mart, Super K, Target, and also at any sporting goods store. Ankle weights are easy to find, fairly inexpensive, and easy to use.

Can Ankle Weights Damage My Body?

In most cases, ankle weights are used by walkers and runners. Ankle weights are part of a trend of resistance training that has become fairly popular. The main idea behind using a weight around an ankle, thigh, arm or leg is make the weighted area more resistant to movement thereby building muscle as well as burning more calories. The idea is pretty simple and straightforward. Think about holding an arm straight out in front of a body. After a minute or so the arm and its muscles begin to fatigue. If you hold a softball in that same arm, the arm will fatigue faster due to the increased weight load. This fatigue factor is really a training tool known as resistance. The added resistance to the arm by the softball makes the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and tendons work harder to keep up. People who enjoy walking or running will add weights to their workout because the body must work its muscles harder to walk or run due to the added weight to the ankle region.

Do Ankle Weights Really Work?

So do ankle weights really work? Yes, resistance training has been used as far back as Ancient Greece in training for the Olympics. Resistance, or weight addition training, is not a new concept. Charles Atlas, one of the world’s most recognizable weight lifter, primarily used resistance training to maintain his physique. Any weighted object that is secured to the human body will take an increase in the amount of energy needed to move the body in any direction. So, if you are wondering if ankle weights, or any other type of wearable weights, work then “yes” is the answer.

The cons to working out with weights strapped to the ankle are few but important. Ankle weights themselves are easy to put on and use. The problems can arise from the extra energy and force that is needed to move the ankle and leg region. The ankle is a place where ligaments, tendons, and muscles all meet and join together around a moving joint. Most people have rolled or popped their ankle and discovered the pain and swelling that can occur when these ligaments, tendons, and muscles get sprained or torn. For some, adding additional weight to the ankle can cause these ligaments, tendons, and muscles to become strained and eventually weakened. This is not a common occurrence but frequent enough that you may want to consult your family doctor if you have had problems with your leg, foot, or ankle area. Nothing is more detrimental to exercising than damaging the very area of your body that you were trying to tone or work out.

What Ankle Weights Brands Are Available and What do they Cost?

There are many brands of ankle weights that are available online and in stores. Here are a couple of brands and their costs. The first brand is Reebok. For $20 you can purchase a pair of 5 pound weights for you ankle. The Reebok set is wrapped in neoprene and cloth so that sweating and chaffing are minimized. Another brand name is Valeo. Valeo’s ankle weights sets are available for around $33. This is for both ankles and comes wrapped in a cloth lining to also minimize sweating and chaffing. This gives the consumer an idea of how much a pair of weights is going to cost them. The weights discussed also come with individual pouches on the weights belt. This means that the exerciser can remove or add weights depending on the type and length of the workout. 10 pounds would be max weight for each ankle with the ability to adjust to a lower weight.

Ankle weights are a great way to add some spice to your walking, running, or daily movement regiment. Weights are easy to use, easy to put on and do not require any extra equipment. You can go to work and inconspicuously wear them to help burn calories or tone your lower legs. The downside is that if you are prone to ankle injuries that the extra weight can strain your lower legs and ankle area to the point of injury. You should consult with a doctor if you have any questions or concerns about using ankle weights or any other types of weighted products.