The science behind this unique fitness apparel line available at The Shop
Wearing weight on your body to level up your workout is nothing new: Fitness fans have been donning weighted vests and attaching extra pounds to their wrists and ankles for a long time. However, this technique has long been lacking a major element that makes strapping weight to your body during workouts so beneficial. MicroLoading, a sophisticated, science-backed design method created by OMORPHO, spreads the weight evenly across the body for maximum performance benefits—and you can now experience it at the Equinox Shop.
OMORPHO's catalog of fitness wear includes MicroLoaded shirts, biker shorts, leggings, vests, and more. So if you’re ready to achieve progressive overload without needing to pick up a heavier set of dumbbells, you’re in luck.
Below, Erin Feser, Head of Science at OMORPHO, explains the science behind MicroLoading and why you can use it to add an extra challenge to your sport (whether you run, dance, bike, lift, or enjoy a little bit of everything).
What is MicroLoading?
If you’ve ever worked out with a pair of ankle weights, you know that they make the muscles of your legs work harder, but they can also strain your ankle joint and leg muscles if you’re not careful.
OMORPHO’s MicroLoading technology reimagines this older design by distributing the weight evenly across the parts of the body to place a little extra resistance on the muscles that are hard at work. Plus, all of the OMORPHO garments are lighter weight (between one and two pounds), so they don’t physically impede you from completing every last rep; they just turn up the heat a bit. Meaning you can move freely.
According to Feser, there are two major ways to use OMORPHO tech: “Fitness people will often wear a garment for the entire time period that they're doing that workout,” she explains. Athletes, on the other hand, may adorn OMORPHO shirts, shorts, or vests to increase the intensity of one specific exercise. “One of our sprinters in Atlanta wears the tights for every warm-up, and then only during select portions of the training that are very specific and determined by him and his coach,” says Feser.
Whether you choose to take OMORPHO on and off throughout your workout or wear it from warm up to cool down, here’s what you need to know about what’s going on in your body with MicroLoading.
What the science says about MicroLoading your workouts
MicroLoading may result in more time-efficient workouts
“[MicroLoading] helps you get more out of that timeframe that you have,” says Feser. “If you're doing, say, a bootcamp class, you're doing a little bit of everything—including some more powerful moves, isometric holds, and moves that get your heart rate up. Having that extra load is going to push each of those different things.”
MicroLoading may help you speed up, jump higher, and become more powerful
Looking for a leg up in your sport? Omorpho may assist you in becoming a better athlete over time. Wearing Omorpho while you sweat could help you increase speed, power, vertical power, and overall power according to research by the brand. In short, whether you’re a tennis player, a runner, or someone who loves a game of pickup volleyball on the weekend, you could see your skills sharpen over time.
You’ll experience the other benefits of weighted workouts
Of course, you’ll also reap the rewards of training with any weighted garment. Research shows that weighted vests may improve blood lactate thresholds for runners (helping them move quickly and more efficiently), and may help the body metabolize fat more efficiently.
Studies have also found that training with weighted vests may help you perform explosive movements (think: power cleans) with more ease. (And the list goes on.)
Long story short, you may find that strapping on some weight adds a brand-new dimension to your workout. You can check out how OMORPHO’s squad of athletes use their athleticwear to push the limits of their workouts—and get inspired to do the same.
Intrigued? Try Omorpho for yourself at the Equinox Shop—and make sure to ask your trainer which pieces will best support your favorite way to get moving.