There are gold, silver, Brazilian bracelets… and now “wellness bracelets”. Its designer admits, “these are not the most beautiful”. “But the goal is to make them into active jewellery,” adds Nicolas Stos, who patented them above all with therapeutic aims.
The idea of this masseur-physiotherapist from Haut-Rhin dates back to 2015. The current thirty-year-old was then still a student at the specialized school in Kehl (Germany), in the middle of an internship in hospitals. “And I realized that patients who often had just had hip, knee or other surgery rarely did their exercises and did not progress much,” he recalls. “I can understand them, the environment is not always obvious. But I wanted to help them optimize every move. »
How ? Maybe with bracelets weighted with sand, which some people use to build muscle. “It was my first idea but it was too heavy and not practical at all”, cuts the health professional. “I couldn’t find anything that was lighter so I tried to optimize my bracelets myself. “With small pieces of metal” not magnetized or magnetic “, all put in a silicone sheath itself dressed in fabric. “Which I had to sew. I didn’t know but I learned”, laughs Nicolas Stos, who then had to find guinea pigs.
If the first were his promo colleagues, “1,500 people tested today”. With very positive feedback according to the creator, encouraged in his approach. “People who tried had less pain or none at all. Even if it was not aesthetic, they were already ready to buy it. »
Since then, the entrepreneur has sold 500 pairs of these bracelets, which can be worn either on the wrists or on the ankles. The former range from 200 to 300 grams for 65 euros, the latter from 430 to 570 against 85 euros. “The goal is not to put them on permanently. At night it is useless and during the day, you have to avoid feeling them. If this is the case, we take a break and we put it back later, but not only ten minutes because otherwise, the effect is minimal. »
He therefore advocates daily use in order to “deeply strengthen the muscles”. “Current medicine says it, you really have to strengthen your muscles. With the bracelets, we work more and it helps to treat, or at least to relieve tendinitis, osteoarthritis, hip problems etc. I even have a professor in Germany who advises them to balance the gait of patients with Parkinson’s. And finally, even those who have no pathologies or pain can wear them, it’s always good to strengthen yourself,” adds Nicolas Stos, aware that his products are still little known or used.
“I brought a new use”
What exactly does the order of physiotherapists think about it? “Honestly, I don’t see where the novelty is. I already take some from a supplier, they are weighted with sand and heavier, ”reacts Gilles Colotte, the president of the CDOMK of Bas-Rhin, without denying the faculties of muscle building. “It’s true that it existed but I brought a new use. Those with sand are heavy and cannot be used in everyday life. With mine, that’s the goal. I aim for reinforcement in the daily lives of patients. »
In any case, he is now determined to develop his creations, which he still assembles at home. He filed a patent and gave them a name: “Weitna”. “Because I’m a fan of the Etna volcano (in Sicily) and I added a W to phonetically mean “weight” in English. The entrepreneur, who lives in Hagenthal-le-Bas (Haut-Rhin) and works in Basel (Switzerland) has many ideas for further developing his product.
“We will soon be able to personalize and connect them, like a pedometer. It will allow you to see the load carried on a daily basis, ”he predicts, convinced of the benefits. “I assure you, I too was skeptical at the start and I am always the first to ask myself questions for my patients. This concept is really good. I am a health professional, I did not want to bring shit on the market. »