Will a weight belt really help?

[goonstopher]

My back is shot...

Hip rotated back and vertebrae pulled out of place with pelvis partially closed. I really want to start doing legs again but even leg presses can hurt pretty bad. I tend to have an arched back not hunched so keeping a flat back is not the problem...

Will a proper ratchet closing weight belt be worth the investment?

I am scared I will buy it and it won't help and I will be out $100+ and money is tight.

 

[muscle_n_blood]

You certainly don't need one anytime soon. Locking yourself in that tight will do more harm than good if this is so recent that it's hard to do leg press. Patience is golden when dealing with a back injury. You don't need a belt for leg press at all. When you get to where you can do light squats again, tn a belt worn snug but not tight will give you a little better sense of stability and security. I've been dealing with a bad lower back for many years. I use a single prong power belt. I can get it as tight as I need too.

 

[Ashop]

My back is shot...

Hip rotated back and vertebrae pulled out of place with pelvis partially closed. I really want to start doing legs again but even leg presses can hurt pretty bad. I tend to have an arched back not hunched so keeping a flat back is not the problem...

Will a proper ratchet closing weight belt be worth the investment?

I am scared I will buy it and it won't help and I will be out $100+ and money is tight.

I rarely ever use a belt unless I'm powerlifting or doing one rep max.
Ive always heard mixed reviews whether they do more harm than good.

 

[goonstopher]

Thanks man. I'd rather not wast money I don't need to.

Unfortunately I don't think my back is the kind of thing that can heal. I would be happy with just one day of pain after lifting but unfortunately sometimes it is 2-3 days of being almost bed ridden. I'd love to do a competition one day but these chicken legs sure don't help. I can handle light weight pretty well, just some knee pain which I can deal with but I always felt like my legs grew from heavy weight which also hurts a lot less (muscle wise aka burn). Even heavy leg presses can screw me up pretty bad, basically anything I have to strain on away from absolutely perfect form with my back tight into the bench.

I have heard belt squats might be an option, not sure where I would do them. Will have to research.

 

[TrainGrubSleep]

My personal oppinion is that belts areoverrated. Yeah they keep your stomach tight so your obliques dont get wide whenu deadlift and shit but i feel like when i squat or heave tbar rows or whatever that it puts a lot of strain on my lower back... i just like knee and elbow straps for now

 

[kycatfan78]

Agree completely with the no belt theory. I think I hurt myself by using one.

 

[Ehren]

From an athletic standpoint, some of the strongest and biggest-legged guys Ive seen in Track and Field (Shot put/Discus/--Hammer throwers especially) dont wear belts. It ensures they have practical, usable strength for their events and they have to keep good form in the gym.

A belt will keep you stable, but in my case, I rely on it after a while and I get fucked knees because I can afford to lean more forward and lift with my back. Bad.

 

[kingpeon]

No, it will not help. Go to a sports chiropractor and when you're finished with treatment start again with perfect form and no belt.