The Ups and Downs of Ankle Weights

Are ankle weights good or evil, that is the question. And the answer is: It depends on who you are and how you use them. Dr. Anthony Luke, assistant professor of orthopedics and director of
primary care sports medicine at UC San Francisco, told the L.A. Times that ankle
weights make muscles, such as hamstrings, quadriceps and glutes, work
harder to do the same motion. "It’s giving a better workout for those
big muscles, but it will put more force on the joints as well as
the muscles. If there’s an existing problem, it can make
things more difficult."
Kent Adams, director of the exercise physiology lab at Cal State
Monterey Bay, warns that the extra weight can
increase the impact loading on the hips and knees, especially in the case of people who are frail or overweight. Adams suggests that if you want more bang for your workout, you increase cardio intensity by varying your
speed or climbing hills.
Read more in the L.A. Times.