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Ankle weights - Precautions to consider?

yarm Posts: 3 Joined: 2006/10/15	2007/01/13, 02:03 AM Hello, I have ankle weights that are 5 pounds per weights and I haven't actually started using them yet. They're adjustable and can be set at 1lb / 2lb / 3lb / 4lb / 5lb. I'm fairly confident I can start straight off with 5 pounds. I do a lot of walking and considered these to be a fair investment. Would it be safe/wise to use these while jump roping? I'd imagine dragging feet might happen every once in a while on the first week. Do you guys have any safety guidelines, pros and cons, and are there any long term effects? Any comments about anything around this topic would be very helpful. Thanks!
asimmer Posts: 8,201 Joined: 2003/01/07	2007/01/13, 10:07 AM What is your goal in using them in this manner? I think wearing ankle weights while running/walking/jumping is probably stressfull on your joints. Use them as resistance for leg lifts, leg curls,knee lifts - those types of exercises that are non-impactive. -------------- Until you value yourself you will not value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it. M. Scott Peck
bigandrew Posts: 5,146 Joined: 2002/10/21	2007/01/13, 01:38 PM don't use them you been beter of geting some dbs. imo -------------- Get your bicep curling, cut off shirt, matching workout outfit wearing,flexing in mirror "toned" wanna-be ass , out of my squat rack! Don't talk to me, only thing that should be moving is the bar.
bb1fit Posts: 11,105 Joined: 2001/06/30	2007/01/13, 01:46 PM These could actually be a bit dangerous. Bear with me here....If you think about, if you have ever hiked for instance and there are a bunch of rocks, when you first start you pick up your feet and do not hit any of them. As you tire, your feet get 'heavy' and you start to not pick them up as far without realizing it. You start to trip on them(the rocks or any obstacles). Add ankle weights to the picture and you can see where I am going with this. 3 extra lbs. can become a ton. So, ankle weights can cause the same problems, and as Amy says becomes stressful on the joints, ligaments, etc. I would use them as she mentions, much better way. -------------- "If it ain't broke, you aren't trying."
SFGiantsMVP Posts: 1,533 Joined: 2005/12/04	2007/01/13, 01:51 PM You'll have to Google it but there is allot of researched studies that show using ankle weights for Cardio type work, Walking, Running, Jogging ect is counter productive and as Asimmer said bad on the joints. Good resistance for Cardio type workouts are Gym type machines like a Elliptical, Bleachers, Resistance Bands but ankle weight for 1 will create a bad imbalance and are shunned. As BigAndrew said you can use light dumbbells for a Power Walk or Walk and this will not create such and imbalance but I wouldn't Run or even Jog with them. -------------- Knock-Um Down & Keep-Um Down!
SFGiantsMVP Posts: 1,533 Joined: 2005/12/04	2007/01/13, 01:53 PM Yup another Great Point BB1fit has made which is part of the imbalance I was talking about. -------------- Knock-Um Down & Keep-Um Down!
christal086 Posts: 155 Joined: 2007/01/06	2007/01/16, 11:56 PM i read an article and it says they throw out your natural walking rythem (sp?) and are more likely to cause joint problems and slow you down. so ditch the ankle weights.