Weight vest | Spinal Osteopenia Osteoporosis

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Weight vest Osteoporosis or Osteopenia

Weight vest Spinal Osteopenia or Osteoporosis.. One of the things we know is that our osteoblasts (bone building cells) respond to increase load on our bones. This is the whole reason why those with Osteopenia or Osteoporosis are advised to start a 'weight bearing exercise program' as soon as possible.

For those with spinal Osteopenia or Osteoporosis this can be a challenge since they are also advised not to bend forward from the waist since in coming out from this position vertebral fractures often occur. See: Exercise warnings

So how to you add load to your spine without bending forward?

One of the easiest ways is to use a weight vest. A well fitted vest adds weight when you stand or walk. In fact if you have the right vest you can slip it on in the morning and wear it for as long as you like.

This has advantages:

You can increase the stress on your bones by slowly adding weight in your vest
You can increase the stress on your bones by wearing your vest for longer period of time each day.

Timely warning about such vests

BUT the one thing you want to be careful about is how heavy each weight is for the vest you buy. Some vests made for power lifters increase weights 1 lb at a time. Since you want to keep your weights 'balanced' that means you start at 2 pounds. A single increase will bring you to 4 pounds and at your next increase you are up to 6 pounds of weight! That is enough to cause someone over the age of 45 to tip or fall if they turn an ankle, step on uneven ground etc. See: Balance and Co-ordination exercises for those over age 40.

There are also some sport vests that use half pound weights. They should give you 4-5 weeks for increasing weights before you reach the 'tipping point'. (I bought one of these some years back but found that I reached my 'safe limit' too fast. This is one reason I have not advocated weight vests. They tend to be expensive and if you reach your top safety weight in a few weeks.....well, that is expensive.

The manufacturer of a NEW weight vest sent me a sample recently. The vest is called HyperVest and it uses weight of only 2 ounces!

It has many more small pockets. I was wondering how it would feel. After wearing it for a week or so I thought this vest might be marketed to the 'fitness crowd' but it could really be useful for those looking to increase bone density....especially for those over age 55!

Why? Well, if you begin with 2 ounces on each side of the vest for week one (I hardly noticed any increase in weight but we know our osteoblasts respond to any increase in stress) and wear the vest for an hour or two. Then the next wee add a few more hours....and next week even longer (the vest is made of thin fabric and can fit under an loose blouse or shirt without 'bulking'.

Then you add another 2 weights and go back to wearing the vest for a shorter time....and slowly increase the time. Well, here is a vest that could “increase weight and resistance' for monthswithout reaching the point at which there might be a danger tobalance.

Take a look. And note the company offers an easy return policy. Click on the FITNESS button at the top and then go to the OSTEOPOROSIS page. HyperWear.com – Weight Vest

I know that weight vests are not cheap. That is why I think it is important to find one that you can use for a long time. ….then put it away for a few months so your bones get used to having no or little stress.......and then take it out and start all over. HyperVest with its 2 ounce weights would be useful for a lot longer than sport vests that use 1/2 pound or 1 lb weights.

Click on the company link at HyperWear.com