Any adults have weighted vest experiences to share?

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Hi,

I am going to start using a weighted vest for sensory integration/proprioception issues. Most of the stuff I see about using weighted vests talks about helping 5 year olds. If anyone has protocols other tips on using one of these things, please share.

I have a weighted blanket that I LOVE. I would probably like a vest too, but it's not necessary for me. I highly recommend the weighted stuff thing. I can barely sleep without 17 pounds on top of me now, and I want even more!

I also have a nice heavy blanket. It's not weighted, but it's made of a lot of corduroy. Since I'm a girl, I tend to wear tight fitting shirts to keep my skin from wigging out, if that makes any sense. Whenever I get x-rays done, I always wish that I had a lead blanket or shirt to keep me safe and cozy. I think that a weighted vest would be a good idea, but it would have to fit well or it would probaly make things worse. Good luck!

So, I have a couple of weeks of vest experiences to share. I am a man in his mid-30s and I weight about 180. My vest is 20 pounds and was purchased on ebay.

On to the results. I definitely think it has a calming effect. In my experience, very vigorous exercise is better at calming, but I can't run stairs all the time. The vest can be worn while cleaning or reading and is good to have when I need to prevent a meltdown, but can't fully stop my life to combat it.

I don't know the limit for wearing, but I have used it for up to 4 hours at a time and everything seems OK. I do think it works best when I move around a bit. When I sit still with it, it seems to do less for me and possibly cause my posture to suffer.

But if want really want to know about the vest, talk to M. Burns:
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=3SUjXRkiRb0[/youtube]

Well not sure its relevent but i used to go to work most days wearing kevelar body armour (heavy, vest shaped) and found it very comforting and generaly pleasant to wear (and couldnt understand why everyone else hated it).

Now whether this was due to the weight and "snugness" of the vest or the fact that people were being unpleasant towards me and it was thick and projectile proof i couldnt say

I have a welded mesh/chainmail shirt from the ringlord, but i dont wear it for that reason. Still, its very comforting. what do the autism vests cost?

Ha! I just talked with someone today who spoke of back issues from wearing a flak jacket! I suspect they are the same thing, but I never knew they weighed so much.

The basic theory is that is AS people have issues with proprioception or body awareness and the extra weight helps to smooth those out. So the weight makes us more aware and that calms us. But who knows for sure!

I'm currently making myself a weighted blanket. I can't wait until it's done because I know it's going to feel awesome. I might make a weighted vest too.

Don't know about the chainmail, but maybe it is all one would need?

My vest was USD $54 delivered. Check eBay for "weighted vest" and you will be deluged with options.

Is it a bullet-proof vest?

Well it may stop some slow rounds from a pistol, but rifles and anything with a bit of power will sail straight through!!

So bullet 'proof' is a bit strong

Yeah, I dont need one. I was just curious. The mail shirt cost me 400.