The yogi jacket – which we have encountered before – is probably among the silliest things ever to be (attempted) marketed, regardless of category (‘attempted’ because at the time it was brought to our attention, in 2018, it was still the subject of a Kickstarter campaign to get it started). According to its promotional materials, the jacket will “[n]aturally relieve pain and reduce stress” – they obviously don’t define ‘natural’ – since its “7,000+ acupressure spikes support you in reaching a deep state of relaxation to elevate your overall well-being”. Yes, apparently “over 7,000 strategically placed nontoxic plastic spikes” line the interior of the jacket to “stimulate” acupuncture points and “energy centers” in the body to provide a sense of happiness and comfort. Of course, since the plastic spikes are all over the place, they wouldn’t primarily hit what quacks identify as “acupuncture points”, but that observation is, honestly, probably of rather limited significance at this point.
The jacket was developed by one Tanveer Grewal, who according to himself used to feel uncomfortable and low on energy spending 10–12 hours a day in front of a computer until he designed the jacket, which he currently (ostensibly) wears around everywhere, and feels much better, something he credits the jacket rather than spending time away from the computer. Otherwise, the marketing is unsurprisingly rather vague about the jacket’s indicated health and wellness outcomes and even briefer on the evidence behind the vague gestures toward “reliev[ing] back pain” and “promot[ing] relaxation of tense muscles”. We don’t rule out that it would be a hit if it ever hit the market. We definitely rule out that it would ever do anything but ruin your clothes and potentially cause infections, however.
Diagnosis: A strong application for an advisory position on public health in the current HHS. Or influencer status in downtown LA. There might be a worrisome horseshoe situation here.
Hat-tip: Respectful Insolence
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