Ankle Weights

[Football]

Are ankle weights good for you when you run?

I heard you shouldn't because it is bad for your knees.

Is this true?

[fpr]

According to members on this board, they are bad for you, I can't remember why though.

[Bassist-Dude]

From what I remember, it puts too much weight on the end of your leg, which is unnatural and pulls on the knees.
So yes, it is bad.

[Runty]

Not exactly sure about the bad for knees part because ankle weights are usually pretty light. However, I do know they mess with your form and the mechanics of your stride so it isn't advised. If your looking for resistance drag a sled behind you.

[tomv]

If your looking for resistance drag a sled behind you.

+1..

[LoneJeeper]

what about the weight vests? I can't help but think that extra weight when running is bad, no matter where it goes, but these should be the least evil.

x2 on the drag something remark.

[k_nine110]

Ankle weights are not advised as stated above because of the stretching of the tendons and ligaments in the knee joint on the lift portion of the running stride. I was using them early in my career and was told abruptly to stop running in them by my doc. The weight vest is what I use however you must use caution and let your body adjust gradually over time to the added weight. The vest that I use (Xvest) maxes out at 40lbs. I started with a meager 5lbs and increased about 5 per 4 running sessions to get adjusted. The extra weight if put on too quickly will begin to impact on your joints and cause a little discomfort.

This is an option and also depends greatly what type of training you are doing. For distance a sled just isn't practical IMO. I use a sled or a parachute for sprints but not for the 2-3 mile runs that I do.

Hope that this was helpful.

[the.powerhouse]

I used to wear them while warming up for basketball, and felt like walking on air as soon as I took them off. was rather a psychological effect though. after long time training with them my ankles felt dodgy. wouldn't recomend it.

[WillNoble]

used to use them, they do cause a fair amoint of knee pain....I would not recommend them, as most on here have already pointed out, sled/prowler or some sort of weighted vest will do much better for you

[Jumpingj]

Stay away from those things