Buying a Lifting Belt

[halflife]

Hey Guys!

As of lately doing dead lifts my lower back hurts when I'm done - I'm looking into getting a lifting belt but they range from $10.00 to $80.00+.

Is there an specific stuff I need to be looking for when selecting.

I was looking at buying from Alan APT, which I know I can't go wrong there.

Thanks for any recomendations on belts!
Halflife

 

[thebrick]

Spend the money to get something heavy, supportive and durable. Everything I have seen from Alan is top quality.

 

[Blenderate]

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[halflife]

My recommendation to you is that unless you're trying to be a competitive powerlifter or otherwise attempt 1RMs, you should never wear a belt. If you think your lower back is sore now, just wait and see what happens after you wear a belt for a few years. How can you keep those muscles strong and healthy if you rely on a belt for support?

I haven't seen a proffesional about this but my my dad has had back problems since he was 25, my younger brother who is 26 has thrown out his back several times just picking up normal stuff, and my younger sister who is 24 has been prescribed medicine due to her chronic back pain for the past 6 months (no previous injuries or anything with the back).

Sure all their posture/movement may be flawed but all of them? None of them are over weight.

The pain in my lower back is what is think is a result of some genetic predisposition.

Or maybe it's not? I'm not really sure, I figured I would try a belt to find out if it helps.

-Thanks for your response!
Halflife

 

[Blenderate]

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[Mash1]

How many of them did weighted prehabilitation work that strengthened their lower back and other core muscles, such as deadlifts? I'm willing to bet that they wouldn't have had the same problems if they had.

I'm not you, so I don't know what your lower back feels like. However, I think you should look at other options such as addressing any form problems or structural imbalances you may have instead of wearing a belt and masking the problem.

Agreed.

 

[halflife]

How many of them did weighted prehabilitation work that strengthened their lower back and other core muscles, such as deadlifts? I'm willing to bet that they wouldn't have had the same problems if they had.

I'm not you, so I don't know what your lower back feels like. However, I think you should look at other options such as addressing any form problems or structural imbalances you may have instead of wearing a belt and masking the problem.

I'm going to take your advice - makes sense - and reevaluate move my form in all my exercises that stress my lower back.

Thanks for everyone's input!
Halflife

 

[FordTurboDiesel]

I bought a, "Gasp" belt.

....cause, well, I'm just plain cool now being the only one in the gym that has one!
J/K.

Good belt, a little pricey I think, but made well. I could hang an engine off it. It's completely unecessary for what I do, but I like to support sponsors if I can and the quality is there.

...but that's just me. I'm always overkilling something.

 

[jm425]

My recommendation to you is that unless you're trying to be a competitive powerlifter or otherwise attempt 1RMs, you should never wear a belt. If you think your lower back is sore now, just wait and see what happens after you wear a belt for a few years. How can you keep those muscles strong and healthy if you rely on a belt for support?

Well I have to disagree with you on this one. Weight lifting belts protect your your entire core so that the chance or throwing out your back or getting a hernia are reduced. I always wear one when lifting and I am a bber. I hurt my lower back years ago doing hack squats on a machine and since then haven't had any major problems with my back thanks to my belt. The only time I don't wear one is when I do work on my abs and inner quads and some hamstring exercises. Tell me this my friend. Why do almost all the pros like ronnie, jay, darrem, etc. wear lifting belts when they train? I'm sure it's not because it's fashionable.

 

[Blenderate]

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[Blenderate]

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[Dad]

My recommendation to you is that unless you're trying to be a competitive powerlifter or otherwise attempt 1RMs, you should never wear a belt. If you think your lower back is sore now, just wait and see what happens after you wear a belt for a few years. How can you keep those muscles strong and healthy if you rely on a belt for support?

Yuo beat me to it!

Cinching up for 1 RM, sure. Gear - belts, wraps, straps, and anything else yuo can think of to "help" yuor lifts is going to keep yuo from getting as strong as yuo might.

I was in the gym last week and saw some guy - powerbelt, knee wraps, wrist wraps - squatting 295 for tough sets of 5, and cutting them 3-4 inches high. Yuo think that guy's gonna' squat, say, 500 anytime soon?

 

[alecaf]

The following studies found that electromyographic activity of the stabilizing musculature is reduced when a weight belt is worn, which could lead to atrophy of those muscles. I would like to hear the argument that an atrophied muscle is somehow less prone to injury than a strong one.

- Lander J, Simonton L, Giscoble J, The effectiveness of weight-belts during the squat exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc; 22: 117-126, 1990
- Morris JM, Lucas DB, Bresler B, Role of the trunk in stability of the spine. J. Bone Joint Surg; 43A: 327-351, 1961
- Waters R, Morris J, Effect of spinal supports on the electrical activity of muscles of the trunk. J Bone Joint Surg {AM}; 52: 51-60, 1970

Paul Chek has written an extensive series of articles explaining why belts are not protective in the long term:
http://www.t-nation.com/free_online...how_to_be_back_strong_and_beltless_part_1&cr=
http://www.t-nation.com/free_online...how_to_be_back_strong_and_beltless_part_2&cr=
http://www.t-nation.com/free_online...how_to_be_back_strong_and_beltless_part_3&cr=

point very well made. Now, how about wearing the belt on heavy lifts but not on widowmaker-type lifts?

 

[bm11]

I wear a belt but not as a crutch. I use it for my work set, because I work to failure, and don't want my back to be my failure point. However, I won't use it for any of my warm up sets, and the stronger I get, the stronger my warmups get. I deadlift 450+ warming up without a belt, working weight being mid 5's, and I think my core isn't compromised any by using a belt for my work sets.

If you are going to buy a belt, I recommend an Inzer Forever Lever belt. The lever design is great, you don't waste your energy getting it on or off. I have the heavier variety, but I know guys with the lighter one that are happy with it as well.

 

[SABAGOY]

I am like you BM. I only wear one on my squat work sets. I think doing warm up sets with 315+ is still strengthening my core.

I have a single buckle 13mm Inzer Forever belt and love it.

 

[jm425]

I wear a belt but not as a crutch. I use it for my work set, because I work to failure, and don't want my back to be my failure point. However, I won't use it for any of my warm up sets, and the stronger I get, the stronger my warmups get. I deadlift 450+ warming up without a belt, working weight being mid 5's, and I think my core isn't compromised any by using a belt for my work sets.

If you are going to buy a belt, I recommend an Inzer Forever Lever belt. The lever design is great, you don't waste your energy getting it on or off. I have the heavier variety, but I know guys with the lighter one that are happy with it as well.

I agree here. I too think that my core isn't being compromised by using a belt when do exercises like dead lifts for my lower back because I still feel it being worked. As I have stated before I take my belt off for abs and other exercises. I think I will stick to using my belt when lifting. I'll do my own thing.

 

[Blenderate]

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[Bigbubz]

A belt is an aid to help you keep correct posture, it isn't a cure all, and if lifting wrong, you can still hurt yourself.

I have used a few belts (My lower bad is bad, although it's getting a lot better). I found a belt made by Nike, that works well. It's light weight and supportive. I wear it when doing anything that might involve the back, unless I'm working out my lower back. It's mainly a reminder. I also have worn it away from the gym when my back had gone out and it was a total life saver. Anyways, the use of a belt is a personal one. I don't disagree with the guys that don't use them. It's kinda like using knee wraps for squats and whatever, it's a personal choice.

**broken link removed**

 

[MartyMcFly1]

A belt is an aid to help you keep correct posture, it isn't a cure all, and if lifting wrong, you can still hurt yourself.

I have used a few belts (My lower bad is bad, although it's getting a lot better). I found a belt made by Nike, that works well. It's light weight and supportive. I wear it when doing anything that might involve the back, unless I'm working out my lower back. It's mainly a reminder. I also have worn it away from the gym when my back had gone out and it was a total life saver. Anyways, the use of a belt is a personal one. I don't disagree with the guys that don't use them. It's kinda like using knee wraps for squats and whatever, it's a personal choice.

**broken link removed**

whoa! 2002 join date and THIS IS YOUR FIRST POST?!?!?! whow!

 

[WildBB]

If I can't do the weight without a belt, Its too heavy.

I don't own a belt and never plan too.

I can squat and deadlift over 2x my weight. I think the belt will only weaken your back and give you a false sence of strength.