Can Ankle Weights Help Tone Legs

Ankle weights are specifically ideal for those who are rehabilitating injuries and those who are looking to tone the legs add more variety to their workouts and increase endurance.

Can ankle weights help tone legs. But brisk walking is a great way to fit in regular physical activity. Your muscles grow stronger with each workout and adapt to an increase in weight. Although ankle weights can increase the energy you burn while walking they may strain the ankle joint and leg muscles which could increase your risk of injury.

Ankle weights generally arent recommended for brisk walking. Instead of trying them for an entire day wear the ankle weights for an hour at a time. Apart from the strain wear and tear that can occur ankle weight also alter your gait and stride.

For that you need heavy weights. The addition of ankle weights will help tone your calf thigh and abdominal muscles buttocks and the back of your legsBut Downey warns that its not a good idea to use wearable ankle weights while youre walking or during an aerobics workout because they force you to use your quadriceps the muscles in the fronts of the thighs and not your hamstrings in the backs. The weight places a greater load on the muscle group being targeted.

One thing you have to keep in mind here is that fast twitch muscles get engaged. It is more effective than doing more repetitions. Adding weight resistance to a workout routine can help tone your legs.

The muscles have to work harder to move this increased load against gravity and in turn this will increase strength Downey explains. But wearable ankle weights are helpful for exercises that target the leg and hip muscles like leg lifts. Gravity pull on the legs also stretches the spine.

One can wear ankle weights while dancing. If youre less fit alternate leisurely walking with periods of faster walking. If you are new to exercise start with 2- to 3-lb.