You might have noticed people sporting a new accessory at the gym. No, not an Oura ring or the latest smartwatch. It’s weighted vests.A weighted vest is a vest worn over the torso. They come in different weights depending on what you buy, but the point is for the vest to serve as a form of resistance training. Simply put, it makes everything you do during a workout more difficult. This is because the added weight makes the heart and muscles work harder.Some of the benefits of wearing a weighted vest during a walk, run or workout include increasing bone density, improving overall strength and burning more calories. But according to personal trainers we talked to, wearing a weighted vest can work against you too. Here, they explain a surprising downside to weighted vests and give tips on how to avoid it.?SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week?
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Kat Pasle-Green, CPT,a certified personal trainer at The Bay Clubs, also says that weighted vests are beneficial for people who regularly work out and are ready to increase the load for physical activities they already perform well. But both trainers warn against using a weighted vest if you’re new to working out or haven’t worked out in a while. And if you are pregnant, have any neck or back issues or arthritis, they say to steer clear of weighted vests completely.
The Surprising Downside To Weighted Vests
Both trainers say that one surprising downside to weighted vests is that they can negatively impact posture. “A weighted vest can cause poor posture if the load is too heavy or incorrectly distributed for the wearer’s body and movement patterns,” Pasle-Green says. Santos adds that wearing a weighted vest that doesn’t fit properly can also lead to poor posture. Both cases can lead to arching the back or positioning the head too far forward as a way to compensate for the added weight.
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Santos recommends starting light (with a vest between 5 and 10% of your body weight and increasing the weight gradually). “Wearing a vest that’s too heavy can strain joints, compromise posture and increase injury risk. The goal is to challenge your body safely,” she says.
Both experts stress that it’s important that your weighted vest fits correctly. “Choose a snug vest and focus on engaging your core during all movements,” Santos instructs.
To avoid any muscle imbalances, Santos recommends mixing movement patterns and targeting all muscle groups. This, she says, helps maintain balance and ensures that a muscle doesn’t get overworked or, conversely, neglected.
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Sources
Mariana Santos, CPT, certified personal trainer and the owner of Brazily FitnessKat Pasle-Green, CPT, certified personal trainer at The Bay ClubsHence then, the article about there s a surprising downside to weighted vests personal trainers say was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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