Do you wear a belt while lifting?

[myosin]

Hey guys, first post here-

I have a degree in Kinesiology and a BSN. During my "Kines" studies, I found that as long as you have your lower back properly locked, i.e., not rounding, etc., there really isn't a "need" to wear a weightlifting belt.

I ask because I always get weird looks by people when doing this... I actually squat and deadlift without one. I overheard a couple old guys who wear belts even between sets saying how I was going to "blow out a disc". But really, so long as proper form is maintained, your disc's are fine. If I were to max out on those lift's I probably would wear one simply to help prevent any rounding out of the back.

If you watch Olympic lifters, a large number do not wear belts. Wearing a belt creates a "fluid ball" in the abdominal cavity which creates greater leverage for your lift... it's not uncommon for a good powerlifting belt to add 20-40 lbs. on your squat and dead. If anything else, it only serves to weaken your abdominal muscles if you were one too often.

Sorry for the long post... so question remains, do you wear a belt? And if so, when and why? Just curious.

 

[Dubs]

Yes.

First off, welcome to the board

I wear a belt while lifting. But only on Squats + Deads. And sometimes during heavy standing military presses.

Although there is no NEED to wear a belt, as you said, if proper form is maintained, a belt is not needed, I wear one because i feel it helps me keep proper form, as well as it makes me feel safer in doing heavy lifts. I know it wouldnt make up for crappy form, but it gives me a feeling of security. Plus, i feel i can go heavier with than without one.

 

[myosin]

Good point

Yes, there does seem to be a bit of a psychological component to wearing one as well. I think it might help in confidence for trying heavier loads.

 

[Dubs]

Yes, there does seem to be a bit of a psychological component to wearing one as well. I think it might help in confidence for trying heavier loads.

I think so anyway. Im scared to go heavy without one, when in reality, if my form was bad enough to make me susceptible to injury, a belt would not help much, if at all. When you think, in your mind, that the belt in keeping you safe, you may feel you can go heavier, with a better sense of security. On the other hand, if you feel TOO secure, as ive seen with some lifters, they let their form slip because they rely on the belt too much, when in reality, it wont protect you too much.

 

[RONJON]

I would say bottom line IMO is wear one only if u need one. I too wear one sometimes on the heavier squats, military, deads...

RONJON

 

[bryan29]

I never where one. Currently my squats are at 325 pounds for 5 sets of 10, give or take a rep.. I suppose it could be argued until we were blue in the face, but from a bio-mechanic and kinesthetic point of view, wearing a belt is dangerous. But who the hell am I to say, just because I too have one of those university thingy's that say's I graduated with my major being kinesiology and minor in sports management, plus 13 years experience working with athletes from high school level to pro. You could say whatever you want, but you need to throw your weight belt in the garbage and learn how to condition your body without it. just my experience and opinion. Oh, by the way.. I'm 40 years old and had my L-5 / L-4 vertebrae fused together when I was 30 years old and have never had a problem with my back. The orthopedic surgeon told me not to use any back support during exercise because it actually weakens the area it is supporting.

 

[TRYN2]

I dont wear one yet, but have been looking into getting one for my max effort sets on deads and squats.

I always thought I would build my lower back by not using one. I also always thought that you were supposed to wear the belt slightly loose so you could push your abs out against the belt to form a tighter core, more solid to provide greater stability vs having the belt tight...?

 

[245]

it's not uncommon for a good powerlifting belt to add 20-40 lbs. on your squat and dead.

Sounds like a good reason to wear one on your heavy sets of squats and deads.

Really, those are the only two exercises I wear one and I do it for peace of mind, I can focus on the target muscles a lot more without worrying about an injury. You're still gonna do work your stabilizer muscles.

As a bodybuilder, you work your abs directly anyway, so there's no need to be scared of week abs.

 

[strength7]

I can never understand why the guys in my gym wear belts when curling and benching LOL

 

[Blenderate]

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[parrajm]

a lot of the things i've read over the years have been very anti belt. by wearing the belt, you start to weaken your back if memory serves me correctly. this in turn puts you at greater risk for injury.

I don't see how it could hurt if you only wear a belt for your heavier sets but I wouldn't wear it all the time.