Do ancle weights stress your body?

Knubb · Tue, March 16th, 2004, 05:24 PM

Since I've been losing weight I have started to use ancle and wrist weights to increase my bodyweight while running. I figured that if I get a great stamina while remaining at my original weight while running, I would have a kick ass stamina when removing the extra weights.

It kinda got me thinking though. Applying weight to your ancle and wrists is a lot different from having it spread out over your body. Especially the shoulders and hamstrings have to work harder as I see it. I "run" for an hour each time I do my cardio (hey, wouldn't it be great to be able to actually RUN the whole time?), and now that I've used the weights quite a few times I'm getting used to them.

Could it still be hurting me though? I wear 4.4 lbs ancle weights and 2.2 lbs wrist weights (I've lost more than the 13.2 lbs that adds up to, but it still is hard as hell...). I know it's not that much, but a little too much is enough to hurt you, right?

If someone has had any experience in this field or has read anything, please share.

I'd like to now if it's safe or not to keep using my weights.

chicanerous · Tue, March 16th, 2004, 06:20 PM

I don't know the answer, but I'm also intrigued. Though if I start loading up with little weights I know eventually I'll be wearing a backpack with half my bodyweight in little weights - yuck.

Ancle is spelled Ankle BTW.

JeremyLikness · Tue, March 16th, 2004, 07:29 PM

... just work-related stress can be damanging. When you run, you are stressing it. The weights add additional stress. However, stress is not always a bad thing. Providing a little stress and giving your body time to recuperate is how it grows and becomes stronger. It is when you chronically stress it, without giving it a chance to recover, that you have issues - and this can just as easily be done without the weights as with.

Jeremy

unlevel · Tue, March 16th, 2004, 08:45 PM

A lot of basketball routines that I've used/read/seen use ankle weights when running...

I've even heard of people wearing ankle weights 24/7 until their next game, then pulling them off before stretching/warmup...

I've also been thinking about trying them (again) for this go around, and using them just for pure jogging instead of isometrics and jumping drills. Any thoughts on the above subject would be greatly appreciated.

Knubb · Wed, March 17th, 2004, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyLikness

... just work-related stress can be damanging. When you run, you are stressing it. The weights add additional stress. However, stress is not always a bad thing. Providing a little stress and giving your body time to recuperate is how it grows and becomes stronger. It is when you chronically stress it, without giving it a chance to recover, that you have issues - and this can just as easily be done without the weights as with.

Jeremy

I see your point, and it's basically what I was expecting, or hoping maybe. I do make sure that my muscles get the rest they need, never exercising the same muscle closer than two days apart.

I'm gonna keep doing what I do, until I feel any pain. I feel that I've gotten quite good at listening to my body, and as long as it doesn't protest, I'll keep pushing it.

Obscura · Tue, March 23rd, 2004, 03:48 PM

When we were kids (high school) my older brother wore ankle weights all the time. He turned out ok.

I've read about some cyclists towing around a bob trailer full of rocks. There are no hills at all where I ride and this would be one way to add resistance without resorting to a masher gear that destroys my knees.