The New York Times reports on the effectiveness of using wrist weights while working out.

Wearable wrist weights, which once seemed relegated to the dustbin of fitness history, are seeing a resounding resurgence on social media.

The one- to three-pound cuffs first gained popularity during the fitness boom of the 1980s, when exercisers strapped on models made from fabric and filled with sand. But by the early 2000s, they had mostly gone the way of the leg warmer. It didn’t help that they absorbed sweat, which made them smell over time.

Wearing wrist weights for prolonged stretches of time can increase your muscular endurance, which can improve your athletic performance and make daily activities more comfortable.

If you’ve ever carried grocery bags for more than a few minutes, you know how heavy they can start to feel — especially if you hold them in your hands instead of on your shoulders.

Wrist weights work similarly, said Kelyssa Hall, CSCS, CEAS, exercise physiologist and strength coach at HSS. “The further down the arm that the weight is, the heavier it’s going to feel,” she said.

The extra load on your bones may also increase your bone density, experts said. But experts advise limiting wrist weights to one to three pounds to avoid over-stressing your joints. If you’re concerned about your joints, consider weighted vests instead. “They reduce the strain on the extremities, and the joints supporting the extremities, but they increase the body weight load,” which helps build strength, Ms. Hall said.

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