The Effects of a Novel Exercise Training Suit on Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Body Composition and Leg Strength

Abstract

The physiological responses to physical activity or exercise using external load carriage systems (LCS) in the form of weighted personal protective equipment, backpacks, or vests have biomechanical and human performance implications. It remains unclear whether a new unique LCS in the form of a weighted (5.45 kg) full-bodied exercise suit can induce greater improvements in performance and body composition. Twenty-one healthy males (20±3 years; 24.9±3.6 body mass index (BMI); 25.1±6.4% total percentage body fat (% fat); 120.1±17.3 kg lean mass; 146.2±35.4 kg leg press 1-repetition max; 1.25±0.14 g•cm-2 bone mineral density; 49.5±8.53 mLO 2 •kg-1 •min-1 maximal oxygen consumption (VO 2max)) were matched for VO 2max and physical characteristics before being randomly allocated into an aerobic exercise intervention with or without the exercise suit using a treadmill at the Cal Poly Recreation Center. Participants jogged at 60%-70% of their maximum heart rate for 30 min three times a week on nonconsecutive days for six weeks. Weight was recorded before and after each session while heart rates, blood pressures, and tympanic membrane temperatures were recorded incrementally during each session. Thereafter, VO 2max and the same physical characteristics were measured and used to analyze the changes before and after the 6week program. The results indicate that there was no difference for the change in any of the variables measured during and between the exercise intervention. Future studies examining the effect of the exercise suit on these variables should strongly consider larger sample sizes and other subpopulations to gain the statistical power to measure the effects of the exercise suit.

The Effects of a Uniformly Weighted Exercise Suit on Biomarkers of Bone Turnover in Response to Aerobic Exercise in Postmenopausal Women With Low Bone Density

“…These site-specific designs may prove to be problematic when utilized to enhance aerobic exercise (Knapik, Harman, & Reynolds, 1996), and may result in reduced performance, such as imbalance, shoulder and back pain, and/or kyphosis. A more universal distribution of the weight around the whole body has the potential to enhance the likelihood of completing the exercises in a safe and effective manner (Curry et al, 2015).…”

“…While limitations of previous LCS designs have provided a substantial lack of evidentiary support, new developments in wearable technology, such as the uniformly weighted exercise suit, show promise in providing adequate weight bearing stimulus during exercise in a well-designed and safe manner (Curry et al, 2015). The design of the suit mimics the natural weight distribution of the human body, with the jacket slightly heavier than the pants, so as to not significantly alter the wearer's center of gravity.…”

“…The exercise suit consisted of a front zip, full-sleeved jacket, and long, drawstring pants. The fabric, Athlotex TM is uniformly weighted, and combines flexibility and breathability for participant comfort as well as to accommodate various body (Curry, Davis, Nazmi, & Clegg, 2015) compositions of the participants. Stainless steel beads are uniformly distributed and integrated throughout the fabric, which is composed of Spandex and other synthetic and natural fibers.…”