How Do Ankle Weights Help the Body?

Increased Strength

Using ankle weights can build strength in your leg muscles easily. By wearing these weights, you place more resistance on your leg muscles, meaning they have to work harder, even when you're walking around. If performing leg lifts or other such exercises, the added weight adds more opportunity for muscle building.

Increased Endurance

Ankle weights can also help you build up endurance for performing other exercises. By wearing the weights, you trick your body into thinking your legs weigh more than they actually do. So, when you take the weights off, your legs will feel much lighter and you'll be able to perform exercises like running even dancing with greater endurance. You'll be able to lift your legs higher and faster with less effort and you can exercise for longer at a greater intensity after using the weights.

Burns Calories

Wearing ankle weights has the added advantage of burning additional calories when you exercise. Now, you can't just walk around wearing these weights and expect to lose weight. However, if you wear them while running or performing other strenuous activity, you will experience a slight increase in burned calories than if you'd done the exercise without weights.

References

• LA Times: Ankle Weights: Pros and Cons
• Weight Loss for All: Ankle Weights Benefits for Losing Weight