Methods for improving one or more aspects of healthfulness in a subject by applying and continuously wearing core weights

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to methods for improving healthfulness, e.g., improving cardiovascular health, stimulating weight loss, and/or increasing muscle size/tone in animal subjects, including human subjects. In one aspect, the method comprises applying a core weight to each of the front and/or rear limbs of an animal subject at substantially the same distance from the torso so as to be substantially symmetrically placed, and such that each core weight lies within the distal ⅔ of the limbs; and wearing the core weights continuously for 6-20 hours per day for at least 2 days per week for at least 2 consecutive weeks. In certain embodiments, each of said core weights has substantially the same mass which is 0.2-1.0% of the total body weight of the animal subject, and each of said core weights spans less than ¼ of the total length of the limb to which it is applied.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method for improving healthfulness in an animal subject having a torso and front and rear limbs, the method comprising:
 applying a core weight to each of said front limbs and/or each of said rear limbs of the animal subject, wherein the core weights are applied to each of said front limbs and/or rear limbs at substantially the same distance from the torso of the animal subject so as to be substantially symmetrically placed, and wherein the entirety each core weight is applied such that it lies within the distal ⅔ of a limb;   wherein the core weights are worn by the subject continuously for 6-20 hours per day for at least 2 days per week for at least 2 consecutive weeks;   wherein each of said core weights has substantially the same mass; wherein the mass of each core weight is 0.2-1.0% of the total body weight of the animal subject.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the animal subject is a human subject. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the human subject has both arms and legs, said arms having wrist and elbow joints and said legs having ankle and knee joints, wherein the core weights are applied to the human subject's arms at a location between the wrist and elbow joints and/or are applied to the human subject's legs at a location between the ankle and knee joints. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mass of each core weight is 0.3-0.9% of the total body weight of the animal subject. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mass of each core weight is 0.4-0.8% of the total body weight of the animal subject. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mass of each core weight is 0.5-0.7% of the total body weight of the animal subject. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the core weights are worn by the human subject for 8-18 hours per day. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the core weights are worn by the human subject for 12-18 hours per day. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the core weights are worn by the human subject at least 3 days per week. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the core weights are worn by the human subject at least 4 days per week. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the core weights are worn by the human subject at least 5 days per week. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the core weights are worn by the human subject for at least 3 consecutive weeks. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the core weights are worn by the human subject for at least 3 consecutive weeks. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the core weights are worn by the human subject for at least 3 consecutive weeks. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said core weights comprise copper and/or magnetic materials. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of said core weights spans less than ¼ of the total length of the limb to which it is applied 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the improved healthfulness comprises one or more of improved cardiovascular performance, weight loss, increased muscle size, and increased muscle tone. 
     
     
         18 . A kit for improving cardiovascular performance, stimulating weight loss, increasing muscle size, and/or increasing muscle tone in an animal subject having a torso and front and rear limbs, the method comprising, the kit comprising:
 2-4 core weights, wherein each of said core weights has substantially the same mass and wherein the mass of each core weight is 0.20-1.0% of the total body weight of the animal subject; and   instructions for using said core weights, wherein said instructions direct the reader to   a) apply a core weight to each of said front limbs and/or each of said rear limbs of the animal subject at substantially the same distance from the torso of the animal subject so as to be substantially symmetrically placed and such that it falls within the distal ⅔ of a limb; and   b) have the animal subject wear the core weights continuously for 6-20 hours per day for at least 2 days per week for at least 2 consecutive weeks.