Weighted vests

Hi, !

I think it's great that you are doing what you can to stay physically active and to protect/improve your bone density. My mom was diagnosed with Osteopenia and I know it was a wake up call for her. I know you are specifically asking about weighted vests, but for her, she found yoga and pilates to be helpful for building muscle and bone strength. She never cared for lifting weights. Would exercise bands be an option for you? They still make be a challenge, if your grip strength is low.

I couldn't find any other mentions in this community on weighted vests, but I do hope some of our members that may have tried vests see your post and comment here. It may be an option, but I can't offer any personal insight for you.

I did find one contributor story on PT and weights that you might find interesting, even though it's not quite what you're looking for -- https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/muscles-strength-training. I also found this article on another site that I thought had a few helpful tips -- https://creakyjoints.org/diet-exercise/weight-lifting-arthritis/. Again, I know I'm not really offering much help in regards to the vest, but I hope this information is useful anyway!

Good luck and keep doing what you can to stay healthy and active!

Best, Erin, Team Member.

A weighted vest could definitely be a good alternative to dumbbells, as it evenly distributes the weight across your body. In conjunction to using it for swimming, you could use it for walking, light resistance training, or even other low-impact exercises like yoga. So I think it would be a great tool that would allow for many different options without putting stress on your hands. Plus, the incremental weight adjustment feature is fantastic for gradually building strength without overloading your joints. The versatility of a weighted vest means you can incorporate it into a variety of workouts, which makes it a great option for someone managing both osteopenia and RA. Just make sure to listen to your body, and perhaps check with a healthcare professional to tailor the weight and exercises to your specific needs. Let us know if you give it a try—I’d love to hear how it works for you! Kindly, Latoya (Team Member)

I agree, gripping weights can be painful. I do find something cylindrical and smooth, such as a can of food is more comfortable to grip. Depending on your joint involvement, there are weights you can strap onto your wrists or ankles. If you’re walking in the cold, lighter weights can be slipped into your jacket pockets. I suggest being very methodical and slow adding weights to your program. I get tendinitis easily when I add weight or repetitions too fast. I use foam “weights” in the pool to help strengthen my arms, but really have to pay attention to how they make my elbows and shoulders feel.
I do believe in trying to find a PT you can have a long term relationship with! I went to the same PT off and on for 12 years. When I needed to go back for a “tune up” or a new problem it was great to not start from square one. She even helped me finally get properly diagnosed. I’ve moved across the country and am still looking for a good long term PT match. Jo

I found foam wraps that can be put around my barbells and am going to try those too. I have no issues with the weight itself, it’s trying to grip them with my darned hands. Ouch! Thanks also for the info on ankle and arm weights. Might look into.
So far I have yet to find a good PT or trainer, going to ask my sports medicine doctor and my back doctor for ideas outside of the practice group I already saw which were terrible. I think they’re all used to just rehabbing people from hip and knee replacements or dealing with older folks coming in with walkers, but they were so wimpy on what they were having me do, so will see. Thanks