Is It Bad To Run With A Weighted Vest?

The use of weighted vest promotes health benefits, but it may also put you in danger. It is already proven that weighted vest is a safer to use for running compared to ankle or wrist weights.

However, the use of weighted vest requires proper guidance and instruction from a professional physician to avoid possible injuries. There are easy steps that you should follow if you’re interested in using this tool.

If you happen to experience any pain or uncomfortable feeling during you exercises with the weighted vest, do not use it again. Not until you consult it with your physician.

Running exercise helps to improve the intensity of your activity. It enhances your heart rate, oxygen consumption and caloric expenditure which is very important to keep your body healthy and physically fit.

Aside from that, a weighted vest is also essential for building strength and muscles allowing you to perform great exercise routines. Using with weighted vest also increases bone mass and decrease the possibility of bone loss as you age.

According to the researchers from Bone Research Laboratory of Oregon State University, wearing a weighted vest during your running exercise also helps to prevent possible bone fractures. A study also concluded that weighted vest is also effective in improving your balance.

Prone to Accident

Running exercise was also considered an intense aerobic activity. Wearing weighted vest while running may cause you joint pains unwanted feelings. If you can’t carry your body weight and you still insist on using a weighted vest, it gives additional stress to your body, and it’s not a good condition.

Beginners must take it slowly. Also, a weighted vest that is not fitted perfectly might cause from falling due to the unbalanced position. If you’re already experiencing knee or back pain, wearing a weighted vest for additional resistance may worsen your current condition.

Using this tool may cause you injuries most especially if you’re already enduring body pains.

Safety Guide

According to professionals, the weight of your vest should be only 5% to 10% of your body weight. Carrying too much may cause you back pain, and there’s possibility that it will damage your back. Since it is popular today as the new user equipment for an intense workout, manufacturers come up with a fantastic feature that is genuinely helpful.

Some weighted vests are adjustable allowing the user to customize the tool regarding on its weight. You can quickly remove the weight placed inside the pocket if you want a lighter exercise and vice versa. For beginners, it is better to start with a light exercise to avoid stressing your bones and muscles.

If your body can already get along with the intensity given by the weighted vest, you can now move to the next level. You may also increase the weight of the vest for building your endurance.

Interval Training

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If you want to increase the intensity of your running exercise without using the weighted vest, consider interval training. The combination of your running training and brief is also effective in losing a huge amount of calories.

It is also a quicker process for burning fats. Aside from that, interval training also improves your metabolism which allows your body to burn fats continuously after you finish a long run.

For a challenging workout, also consider working out in uphill as it is also safer than running on a flat surface. It prevents you from over speeding.

All types of exercise equipment give excellent benefits to our body. It is helpful for people who have weak immune system and want to make their body healthy.

However, if it has advantages, of course, disadvantages also exist. It should not be ignored since investing in an exercise tool may affect your health. It might be right or wrong. But the wisest thing to do here is to consult your fitness instructor or physician for better advice.