Question 341 of 433
Adaptive resistance machines, bone-loading studios, and weighted vests?
The short answer
The principle of loading muscle and bone is sound. The specific products have little or no trial evidence of their own.
Motorized resistance machines have no independent trials. Bone-loading studios borrow their claims from a study that tested supervised heavy lifting and jumping, which is a different thing. And in a 2025 trial of 150 older adults losing weight, wearing a weighted vest every day did not prevent bone loss at the hip.
Walking with a weighted pack is good exercise for the heart and legs. For bone, the evidence still points to resistance training and impact.
“This book is for education. It is not medical advice, and reading it does not make you my patient or create a doctor-patient relationship.” From the book’s medical disclaimer. Full disclaimer
LIMITED PRODUCT-SPECIFIC EVIDENCE — Commercial loading systems and vests; conventional loading evidence cannot be borrowed wholesale.Evidence grade (draft mapping)BLimited or small human studiesPart 22, Q341 · Part sources
From Longevity Unmasked by Afshine Ash Emrani, MD, FACC. Medical disclaimer. This book is for education. It is not medical advice, and reading it does not make you my patient or create a doctor-patient relationship. Nothing here is meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Medicine is personal: a test, drug, supplement, or exercise plan that helps one person can harm another. Do not start, stop, or change any medication or treatment because of something you read in these pages. Talk with a licensed clinician who knows your history first. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911. The author disclaims responsibility for any loss or harm arising from use of the information in this book.