Clothing has been developed with extra weight to be worn in the gym or during everyday activities. [easyazon_link keywords=”Weighted clothing” locale=”US” tag=”masterherald-20″]Weighted clothing[/easyazon_link] is designed to create more resistance which should improve strength and fitness levels when the weights are off. Weighted clothing is available in ankle/wrist weights, shorts, vests and calf/forearm weights with a set weight or adjustable weights.
Here are a few of the touted benefits of weighted clothing:
1. Benefits cardiovascular training. Cardiovascular training can be made far more difficult when weighted clothing is added and, once the weight comes off, you will be able to run further, jump higher and exercise for longer.
2. Change up the intensity. The body is known for getting used to a style of exercise which results in a performance plateau. The use of weighted clothing will keep the workout intensity varied and the body will constantly have to adapt and perform at its best potential.
3. Increases resistance during weight training. The extra weight provided by weighted clothing forces the body to support all areas of the body during an exercise while lifting heavy weights. This improves muscle development all over the body which improves your strength and endurance.
4. Bone strength increases. The bones will have to adapt in order to deal with the extra weight and strain on the body which results in stronger bones.
Standard body-weight exercises such as push-ups, sit-ups, leg raises, pull-ups, squats and lunges can cease to give the great results they once offered for two reasons: 1.) The body gets used to the exercise and it cannot be made more difficult because it is based on body-weight resistance; and 2.) when you work out, you lose weight which results in less weight and less resistance while performing these exercises. This is why weighted clothing could help you achieve your goals.
However, is weighted clothing safe?
It is obvious that weighted clothing has benefits but there are some down sides to them which could out-weigh the good.
Here are a few of the health risks of weighted clothing:
1. Weighted vests compress the spine. When you wear a weighted vest, unnatural pressure is exerted on the shoulders and around the abdomen in such a way that it compresses the spine and reduces the space between each of the 33 vertebrae. The spine is designed in a very specific way and the spaces between the vertebrae allow for movement, therefore, compressing the spine reduces movability and can result in severe injuries.
2. All weighted clothing shifts the body’s centre of gravity. If weight is loaded to the front of the body, the back of the body will have to work much harder and vice versa. This over-compensation will lead to overuse of a muscle group which can result in injury.
3. Weighted ankle and wrist weights pull at the joints and can result in severe injury to the shoulder or hip joints due to the sudden increase in weight.
4. Cardiovascular activities, like running, are already known for the potential damage they cause to bones and joints and, by adding more weight to these exercises, you are increasing the risk of injury with weighted clothing.
Weighted clothing has many benefits in theory, however, they must be worn with caution because they can result in mild to severe injury, especially if too much weight is added too quickly.