wrist straps/belts for deadlifts

itisisaysme · Aug 10, 2014

I have been approaching the deadlift primarily as a functional strength exercise so I have generally been against using straps or a belt from that standpoint, but strictly in terms of optimal muscle growth is it advisable to use straps or a belt while deadlifting?

ajdos · Aug 10, 2014

itisisaysme said:
I have been approaching the deadlift primarily as a functional strength exercise so I have generally been against using straps or a belt from that standpoint, but strictly in terms of optimal muscle growth is it advisable to use straps or a belt while deadlifting?

You will get a lot of different answers here.

For me the heavy days I used straps and a belt, if I could lift more weight that way and impose more stress on my muscles then I felt like that was a good advantage to give myself.
However when working on the form and strengthening my grip in the exercise I went strapless, but still wore a belt ( I have an umbilical hernia).
When I do not use straps, its a load and unload lift.
When I go heavy I do not let the bar touch an inch or so off the floor but not touching it.

Sandpig · Aug 10, 2014

IMO, if you are not training for a PL comp., by all means use both if you need/want to.

itisisaysme · Aug 10, 2014

Sandpig said:
IMO, if you are not training for a PL comp., by all means use both if you need/want to.

Would you say that it would be more effective for muscle building purposes to do so?

Sandpig · Aug 10, 2014

If they allow you to use more weight, that's always a good thing. No?

itisisaysme · Aug 10, 2014

It seems logical to me that more weight = more muscle, but sometimes things that seem to make sense in theory dont always work the same way in practice. Obviously it wouldnt help grip strength at all, but if it allows you to use more of everything else i suppose thats better for muscle building