ataxia and weights to help balance

[dlhfeldman]

I'm new here. Does anyone have experience using weights to help with balance. I thought someone posted a contact name last year of a woman who could offer some insight.

[Litty]

Welcome and oh yes.

I have quite heavy ankle weights, slightly lighter wrist weights and my therapist helped me make a belt.

I was curious about the expensive american jackets but could not afford one, so I bought an exercise jacket and took most of the weights out - still quite warm so I have forgotten till now to try it when cooler- lol hopeless! Anyway it gave me loads of weights which I hang of my walkers.

I use weighted cutlery too x

[dlhfeldman in reply to Litty]

Thank you. Do you know anyone else who might have additional insight? I believe there is/was a woman (Kati?) on livingwithataxia.org who is quite knowledgeable about weights but I can't seem to locate her.

[Litty in reply to dlhfeldman]

Lol - small ataxia world!!

I became quite good friends with Kati on Facebook but she has gone silent on anything internet (Ben’s Friends at Ataxia for Living even privately emailed her for me). I have tried to contact many of her friends and we are hoping she got short of money and the internet had to go : ( (PIP was coming-up). x

[dlhfeldman in reply to Litty]

Thank you.

[wobblybee]

🙂 Log onto livingwithataxia.org and look for the magnifying glass symbol next to login. Click on the symbol, type in ‘weights’ ‘Kati’ or whatever comes to mind about your search. Archive posts appear, scroll down to see if anything rings a bell 🤔 xB

[neta]

There is a company in California that seems to sell these vests. . Google then, Also "February" seemed to know a lot about them Good luck

[simon111]

Hi I bougth one of the weighed jackets for my son from America .Not much help

[wobblybee]

🤔 If this enquiry is related to weighted vests, see motiontherapeutics.com and otvest.com 🙂 I tried both myself when they were exhibited at a Convention. It seems that everyone’s experience can be different, some people notice a dramatic improvement instantly, but for others (myself included) it can be barely discernible.

One important thing to bear in mind with the ‘balancewear vest’ from motion therapeutics. A change in ataxia symptoms may very well require the weights to be distributed differently in order to maintain benefit from the vest. If this is the case, a therapist trained by the company would be required to do it. 🙂xB

[chelpet]

As I understand the theory and practice of physio therapy, anything that increases one’s core strength, whether it be weights, exercising, gymnastics, swimming, Pilates. etc. improves one’s balance.

That has also been my practical experience!

Chelpet