WAG Are ankle weights ever okay

[gymgurl]

with all the talk of ankle weights and the hazards and possibility of injury, it makes me wonder are they ever okay to use or are the risks just two high? I've also heard that it's to do with growth plates so does that mean once you are finished growing ankle weights are safe to use? Maybe Dunno can help me with this?

Also as a coach or gymnast do you use ankle weights at all?

 

[Aussie_coach]

Yea, ankle weights are ok in some circumstances. Young kids growth plates have not been ossified so they are in danger of damaging the growth plates with ankle weights. By around age 12 the plates are significantly ossified that the danger is minimized. But at all costs avoid weights for kids under 8.

Ankle weights are generally a bad idea for body shape conditioning, like dish holds etc. because kids tend to sacrifice their body shape to deal with the extra load. Then they get really good at doing it badly. But they can be a very useful tool for active and dynamic flexibility work, as long as the gymnasts has enough static flexibility and strength.

 

[JBS]

Also as a coach or gymnast do you use ankle weights at all?

Yes...but not with the younger ones. Ankle weights are useful...but limited.