wearing a belt

[moose]

How many of you wear a belt when squating or deadlifting or both when training moderate to heavy?

 

[tbonus]

always on deads and squats, even heavy shrugs

 

[Steak Helmet]

I never do...unless I am close to max weight. I like the fact that my lower back is strong and can handle the weight that I squat or shrug. I had a herniated disc back in the day and I wore one then, but when it all healed, I slowly got off the use of the belt to keep my lower back strong.

If you have an injury, I recommend one when you get to 50% of your max, but when you are handling the lighter weights to warm-up, it is good to get those muscles strong again and not rely on belt for the support...to me I feel that the back will not get stronger wearing a belt for all movements.

 

[MikeS]

I use one on squats, deads, heavy rows-when I get up to about 50% max also.
Better safe than sorry, bottom line!

 

[BigBoyJ]

I never wear one...ever. In my opinion, if the weight I'm lifting is putting me in enough danger that I need something to support me, then it's too heavy.

 

[btmagnus]

no belt

I never wear a belt, when lifting and I find that it helps to really build core strength.
Magnus ver is 41 years old and he doesnt wear a belt.
He doesnt wear one even when he deadlifts 800 for reps.

 

[zephyr22]

I know this is off topic...

When you said core strength I keep thinking of that picture of that guy squatting on a swissball. Just made me giggle a little. I do use a belt, on and off. Later.

 

[bolo]

i use one on lifts that put stress on my lower back, but only at about 50% max, i think if you don't were one you will develop a thicker waist

 

[moose]

that's a good thought bolo, I never thought about it that way before.

 

[Coopie]

I wear a belt for one, and only one exercise - the bent-over barbell row.

My logic is this: I am lifing a heavy weight in a ver yprone position. Therefore, better safe than sorry...

I don't want my lower back to be the "weakest link" in that exercise.

 

[drgoodbody]

Use to only use a belt only on squats. Now I use them for squats, deads and rows. Lets me handle more weight without the risk of a lower back injury and I think it helps from a posture standpoint on some of the lifts as well (keeps me from rounding my back).

DrG

 

[xcelbeyond]

I believe that if your form is good (a belt seems to compensate for poor form) and you're not doing a max lift/single, you're better off not wearing a belt - I don't.

Your waist, lower back and midsection muscles (that you are taking out of the equation by using a belt) are not getting strengthened. If you want to get stronger, those ancillary muscle must also get stronger. Kinda like having a bad back (the typical bad - not injured back) and not doing situps cause your back is bad. Doing situps (mild/moderate) would help strengthen the back but avoiding them just keeps weakening the back.

 

[MikeS]

Come on - its not like you arent using the muscles (core midsection) at all just because you have a belt on! It just gives that extra support and stabilazation. When I squat I still tighten the shit out of my back and stomach. Your low back gets no work on 500lb+ deadlifts because of a belt? Give me a break!

 

[knucklehed]

Give me some feed back on this:

I quit using a belt 15 years ago. I prefer lifting without straps wraps, belts etc. This has never been a problem until recently. I have been preparing to compete in a state powerlifting comp. So I have been doing more deads and squats over 500lbs.
A few weeks back I experienced some inner-abdominal pain following a tough set of deads. About a week later I noticed that I have a little hernia popping out right next to my naval. I can pop it back in easily and it doesn't bother me much at this time.
Question: Could I have avoided this with a belt? Will wearing a belt prevent it from growing?
Thx
KH

 

[BigBoyJ]

A belt won't offer much protection from a hernia. When you're doing heavy deads, or squats, you're still going to be flexing the hell out of your abs. The flexion can cause a hernia with, or without a belt. And a belt definitely won't prevent a hernia from worsening. If I were you I'd get to a doctor now and start seeing about getting that thing fixed if for no other reason than the thought of my intestines poking through my abdominal wall would make me feel....weird.