Walking with Ankle Weights – Yes or No?

Walking with Ankle Weights – Yes or No?

Risk versus Rewards!

It’s easy to assess this one guys: ankle weights are great fitness tools.  I really love them for STRENGTH TRAINING the front and back of the thighs (quads & hams) and also the backend muscles (glutes)! *** My teenage son thinks it’s cool when I shorten the names of the musclesAnything to help a mother seem “cool’ to her teenager …. LOL! (That’s Quadricep Group, Hamstring Group, and Gluteus Group.)

Strength training exercise, that isolates an area of the body, and is performed at a slow, controlled speed, is the safest way to use ankle weights.  The risk is low and the reward is beautifully toned legs!

Walking or Running, also known as Cardio exercise, Aerobic exercise, or brisk exercise, has many risks if you choose to wear weights wrapped around your ankles.  The risks are injury to your ankles, knees, hips and back.  All joints are immediately compromised as your muscles and joints work to control the added weight positioned at the lower end of your leg.  Wearing weights at your ankles will make the workout more intense which burns more calories.  But are the injury risks worth the extra calorie burn?  I don’t think so. There are safer ways to increase intensity to an aerobic workout.  In our world, they are called WALK BOOSTERS!

I’ll leave that BIG topic for another day!

Thanks for the great questions walkers!

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