Weighted Vest Training in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study

Abstract

Objectives:To determine if weighted vests dosed at 10% of body weight, when added to a home exercise program, provides stimulus sufficient to improve strength, sit to stand performance, and aerobic capacity in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Nineteen participants (mean age = 68.7 +/-5.9 SD) were randomly assigned in a 1:1 fashion into either an exercise only control group or an exercise plus weighted vest at 10% of body weight intervention group. All participants performed the same home exercise program consisting of eight open and closed kinetic chain lower extremity exercises, and a 30 minute walking program, 3x/wk for 12 weeks. Pre and post intervention data collection included: lower extremity muscle strength dynamometry, five time sit to stand, 30 second chair rise, two minute step and six minute walk tests. Results: Statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) were noted in 100% of weighted vest group and 42% of control group dependent variables. Between groups comparison demonstrated statistically significant improvements in the vest group relative to control group in 5/12 dependent variables (p < 0.05). Weighted vest intervention resulted in exceeding minimally clinically important differences in 6-minute walk test, 2-minute step test and 30-second chair rise test performance. Based on participant report, one half of weighted vest users reported difficulty with vest donning and doffing. Conclusions: Weighted vest use during exercise resulted in statistically and clinically greater improvements in strength, sit to stand performance, and aerobic capacity than exercise alone. Further research is required to determine optimal weighted vest dosage parameters to maximize functional gains while reducing the need for assistance with vest management.

A Biomechanical Study on Failed Snatch Based on the Human and Bar Combination Barycenter

“…The snatch process was divided into six phases in most previous studies; they are the first pull phase, the transition phase, the second pull phase, the turnover phase, the catch phase, and fully stand phase [ 11 , 21 – 24 ]. And they reported that the phases before the full stand were the most important in snatch [ 20 , 22 , 25 , 26 ]. In the present study, the snatch action from start to end of squat position, which is consistent with literature, was divided as the knee extension phase, the knee flexion phase, the force phase, the inertial ascent phase, the squat support phase, and the support completion phase, which were abbreviated as M 1- M 6 [ 27 ].…”

Effects of whole body vibration exercise combined with weighted vest in older adults: a randomized controlled trial

“…Klentrou et al (2007) had postmenopausal women complete multimodal exercise for 65 min per day, 3 days per week over 12 weeks, wearing a WV (progressively increased up to 15% of participants body weight), and found a significant reduction in serum osteocalcin levels (a bone resorption marker) and improved ankle plantar-flexion strength [11]. In addition, Mierzwicki (2019) revealed 12 weeks of lower extremity exercises with WV loading equivalent to 10% of participants bodyweight improved hip muscle strength, 30-sec chair rise,2-min step and 6-min walk test performance in older adults [12].…”