Balance Vest

[mrsmike]

Hi all. I have a question. Has anyone tried a balance vest and what is the ballpark cost of one if you have tried one. My balance is a bet sketchy at times and was wondering if one might help. Thanks.

[jimeka]

Hi mrsmike, I have never heard of one, I look forward to reading the replies of those that know about them. My balance is way off, so I hope you get good responses, cheers Jimeka

[cats3 in reply to jimeka]

Hi Jimeka, I hope you read my reply to mrsmike. I LOVE my Balance Vest! I have had it for almost a year. It helps me stand up straighter and keep walking even with my cane which is the most important thing to keep on moving as long as you can!

[rjoneslaw in reply to jimeka]

I never heard of the vest but before you purchase it try walking with a weight in the hand that is your weakest side. It will force your stabilize. This is a tip I got from the Bioness rep who is also a PT. I was always leaning to my left. It helped

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador in reply to rjoneslaw]

I will have to try that rjoneslaw

[plosed06]

Balance vest did not help me because my legs are weak. I think it costs around $300.

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador]

Hi mrsmike l just looked it up, since l have never heard of it before. It looks like you can get a cheap one at Kohls. Or one that is made just foe you with a prescription or an appointment. l just typed in balance vest

[Kj9681 in reply to Jesmcd2]

I'll be making it my business to obtain one! Awesome. Thanks

[jimeka in reply to Kj9681]

How is the bioness doing? Has it changed your life much, and is your walking greatly improved? Thanks Jimeka

[Kj9681 in reply to jimeka]

Hey, Jimeka! I've not forgotten about this group that I've grown to make a part of my life. 😊

Well, last week, although my MD office signed and sent back the form needed for Bioness to submit to insurance, it took all of us until Fri to have it filled out correctly and sent back to Bioness.

Today is Mon...now, I wait. The process getting it takes about 2 wks I was told. So, I'm not going to panic!!! How's you process getting along?

[jimeka in reply to Kj9681]

Hi kj, I didn't know that it took so long to process. I still am waiting, November 10th if all goes according to plan. Let us know how you get on with the balance vest, I am training myself, got up to quarter of a mile today walk with my walker and dog Razor. To think we did 5 miles a day, hope you are keeping well. Cheers Jimeka

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador in reply to jimeka]

I was a long distance road bike rider until I went numb. Averaged 150-200 miles a week. Now I feel empowered by walking a block to the gym and swimming a few laps😊

[rjoneslaw in reply to Kj9681]

You will love the your unit when you get it. Which are you getting? I have the Bioness L 300plus. My insurance paid for mine it took several weeks as well.

[rjoneslaw in reply to jimeka]

I wanted to let you know my Bioness L300plus is working great for me. It makes me stand on my weak leg. Also the thigh cuff helps push my leg forward since my hamstring locks up when it's cold or when I'm tired. Also I figured out how to keep the back of my pants leg dry. After I put it on I have a towel that I press against it to squeeze out the excess water that would leak out when I sit down and when I put it on.

[Kj9681 in reply to rjoneslaw]

Yes! I'm so happy that you shared this with me! I have high hopes! I'm not ever giving up! Thanks for the tip...

Bioness contacted me today and informed me that they've began the insurance process (they got fax back). I'm to receive the L300. Hopefully, I can work hard enough to not need the thigh.

I'm also going to check out the balance vest. Are you?

[rjoneslaw in reply to Kj9681]

The Bioness will help you with balance because it is going to force you to shift your weight.

[Kj9681 in reply to rjoneslaw]

Awesome!

[jimeka in reply to rjoneslaw]

I am so pleased that it is working out for you, I can't wait to try it. I hope it continues

[cats3 in reply to Jesmcd2]

Hi jesmcd2, My husband tried to tell me I could look for a balance vest somewhere. You need to go to the motion therapeutics website and check it out. Definitely worth looking into if you have balance issues. I LOVE MINE!!

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador in reply to cats3]

Hi cats3 that was one of the websites that came up. Also l like how the make for the individual person.

[DogMamma]

Do any of you understand how if works.? I am going to GOOGLE!! Might help husband.

[cats3]

Hello Mrs Mike! I have been reading these posts for about a month and haven't responded to any posts yet but I have to on this one. I have had a balance vest since November of last year and LOVE IT! I saw the word balance vest in an email I get and since I hadn't heard anything about it, googled it. I saw this video on Motion Theraputics (not sure of spelling) of a woman who was like a wet noodle and when she had the vest on she walked upright so I knew I had to research it. I was blessed to have a physical therapist who had been trained to fit someone with this vest in my area of Ohio. It took me 3 months to get an appointment with her because she is booked! Once I went to meet her she confirmed that the balance vest would help with some of my walking and balance issues. I feel like I always want to tip over and are constantly leaning on things. They have two versions of the vest and I went with the less expensive version at first which was $395. Sometimes insurance will pay for it or otherwise I think they can work out some time of payment plan for you. The therapist sees which weights inside the vest help your body to perform like it would if you didn't have any balance issues. Who would think that these little weights put on a vest that you wear on your body could actually make your brain work differently! I am a believer and suggest you look into it!

I was diagnosed in 2003 with RRMS and have been on Betaseron the whole time. Don't love shots but I really haven't had any additional symptoms other than a bad gait, since my right side is weaker. I take Amprya as well to assist in my walking. I walk with a can and use a walker when I am going further or on more challenging areas.

Let me know if you have any other questions. Hope it helps!

[mrsmike in reply to cats3]

Hi Cats3! Thanks for the great endorsement for the balance vest. It truly sounds like an item to get. How does it work actually? Once you are fitted and weights are placed, do they stay the same or do they need to be moved day to day depending on which way you are swaying that day? Or are they set in place and say every 6 months or so things need to be re-evaluated by your therapist and weights moved?

[cats3 in reply to mrsmike]

The weights are attached with Velcro on the vest.. You put the vest on in the morning and will gradually get used to wearing it all day. I work so I usually have it on approximately 10, 12,15 hours with no problems. I come home and take the vest off when I change clothes in the evening. You have to be careful when you take it off or when you don't have it on because your brain gets used to working differently when you have the vest on. I went about 6 or 8 months and then my walking started getting a little off balance again so my therapist tested me again and we adjusted the weights. She said that was normal as your body gets better or adjusts to the weights. It is amazing how a small weight maybe quarter of a pound put in the correct place makes all the difference in the world! No more leaning to one side and feeling like I am tipping over. The total weights I have on the vest around about 2 pounds so that is why you will need to break into getting used to wearing it. The amount you will need and where are all adjusted by the therapist. I wear my vest under my clothes so no one actually sees my vest. Let me know if you have any other questions. Good Luck!

[mrsmike in reply to cats3]

Thanks!

[dr92636 in reply to cats3]

The vest sounds great but I also have "footdrop" does anyone

else have it that has the vest?

[mrsmike in reply to dr92636]

Hi dr92636

I also have foot drop. In May I purchased the L300 from Bioness. It has been worth every penny. When I don't have it on I tend to drag my foot, but when I have the L300 on, the stimulation forces your foot up. Tripping on things has become almost nonexistent. I love mine. You can try it out for 30 days to see if it works for you or not. I am looking into getting the balance vest now in hopes that I will be able to stop walking with my cane. Good luck.

[cats3 in reply to dr92636]

I have some drop foot on my right side also and when I have the vest on and the weights are correct some how it helps so that my right foot works like it is supposed to. That may not happen for everyone but it does for me. Good Luck!

[Kj9681]

I looked it up.

motiontherapeutics.com/for-...

Above is the link to find out more and see if you qualify, or can afford one.

Hope this helps, blessings.

[RoyceNewton]

Mrs Mike, P have heard of the balance vest it sounds good, I will tall to the physic today, thanks.

Hope it all works out for u

Rotce

[cats3 in reply to RoyceNewton]

I hope the balance vest can help you. It sure has me! Good Luck!

[rjoneslaw]

I never heard of the vest but before you purchase it try walking with a weight in the hand that is your weakest side. It will force your stabilize. This is a tip I got from the Bioness rep who is also a PT. I was always leaning to my left. It helped

[rjoneslaw]

I never heard of the vest but before you purchase it try walking with a weight in the hand that is your weakest side. It will force your stabilize. This is a tip I got from the Bioness rep who is also a PT. I was always leaning to my left. It helped

[rjoneslaw]

I don't know if you get NeurologyNow but the June/July issue has exercises to help with balance.

[beadowns]

Saw one demonstrated at an MS mtg., and it appeared to correct the person's ability to stand upright. Was 3-4 years ago & I don't remember the cost. Must have been more than I could afford, which would have been more than $100 !

[Acorkhill]

I tried one on when I was doing therapy. It was amazing.

[Hidden]

Mrs Mike, it is MSFIGHTER saying hello and welcoming to this incredible chat room. I have a weight vest and the only thing I can say about it is it is truly a life-altering invention for people with balance issues with MS. I went from a wobbling drunk to a stable normal gaited person who could walk outside without a cane with my weight vest on!

I waited till toward the end of the year when my deductible was met and i basically got my weight vest for free. It's the way to go if you can because otherwise they are very very expensive.

The problem I have now is that due to my secondary health issue with my liver and the rare genetic disease i have, Polycystic Liver Disease, I can no longer get my weight vest on. My abdomen has gotten very distended due to the multiple cysts growing inside my liver my vest will no longer fit me.😩