Weight lifting Belt

**mick01** · 05-10-2002, 12:42 PM

Originally posted by The_Chicken_Daddy

Hey Mick, although i disagree with you using an argument like "everyone else is doing it so it must be right", i do agree that belts can be beneficial. Extra support for the "core".

I only use my belt when squatting my heaviest set and while doing standing militaries.

Oh, and when i wrap a chain and plates around it for weighted dips

I didn’t mean to sound like I was jumping on a belt bandwagon because "that’s how the big guys do it". I was just trying to make a point that the "big guys" have done their research to reach their high levels. I feel I have done my share of research as well. I advocate the belt on my own findings not the main stream.

If there is one thing I am not its main stream. I train in a fairly obscure fashion and HATE most supplement companies and magazines with extreme prejudice.

Mick

**Twin Peak** · 05-10-2002, 02:02 PM

Originally posted by mick01
Are you addressing me?

Is a mid 400 squat/dead supposed to be impressive?

Heavy is relative.

If a belt were not important then why would ALL the top power lifters and strong men wear a belt????

Mick

Hey Mick -- sorry if you took offense to my post or somehow got the idea that I was gunning for you.

Oh well. I was just adding my two cents given everyone else's uniform belief that belts are necessary, at least on some level. Personally, I don't think they are. I used to use a belt but dropped it a long time ago.

I have found, and you can disagree all you want, that if you use proper form, a belt is not necessary -- i.e., you will not hurt yourself w/o a belt. Will it help you lift a bit heavier? Probably a bit, but that doesn't mean the heavier weight will help you build muscle or increase your strength.

I wasn't trying to impress anyone, just trying to make the point that heavy weights can be used w/o a belt. And yes heavy is relative, and yes those weights are heavy for me (3-5 reps).

"If a belt were not important then why would ALL the top power lifters and strong men wear a belt????"

Why? The answer is quite simple actually. Because as you said, the use of a belt increases intramuscular pressure on the abdomin wall. This permits you to lift slightly heavier weights. Also, on an extreme level it may help prevent injury. If a powerlifter could increase a lift by even 5 or 10 pounds, he'd wear a belt --- voila! Same reason they use knee wraps (which can prevent injury if you have bad knees) and a squat shirt. Do a squat shirt help prevent injury? Why don't we all use them?

My reaction is simply one to the general notion that belts are necessary and, often, taken to the extreme as seen by those who use them for bench, etc.

**mick01** · 05-10-2002, 02:37 PM

Originally posted by Twin Peak

Hey Mick -- sorry if you took offense to my post or somehow got the idea that I was gunning for you.

Same reason they use knee wraps (which can prevent injury if you have bad knees) and a squat shirt. Do a squat shirt help prevent injury? Why don't we all use them?

Don’t sweat it.

Just read that first thing this morning after I got into it with my boss. I may have been feeling a little confrontational.

I agree with you almost fully. A belt will put a few more pounds on your lift. But there is a certain amount of safety provided.

Many will say that a bench shirt or squat suit is for safety. Thats BULLSHIT! I can put on a quality suit and knee wraps and put another 40-50 pounds on the bar. A bench shirt will give me another 30 pounds. Safety? Yeah right........

If its safety why isn’t something worn for the dead as well.

Mick

**Twin Peak** · 05-10-2002, 02:48 PM

EXACTLY!

**Robboe** · 05-10-2002, 04:58 PM

Originally posted by mick01
If there is one thing I am not its main stream. I train in a fairly obscure fashion and HATE most supplement companies and magazines with extreme prejudice.

Mick

Dude, you're not alone.

**Training God** · 05-10-2002, 07:39 PM

I wear a belt for all my exercises. Just so that I know my back won't get hurt.

**mick01** · 05-10-2002, 07:48 PM

Not a good idea. You will limit the muscle development in your torso making you more susceptible to injury

**w8lifter** · 05-10-2002, 07:52 PM

Originally posted by mick01
Not a good idea. You will limit the muscle development in your torso making you more susceptible to injury

He's just being a twit...Welcome to IM PowermanDL

**Training God** · 05-10-2002, 08:07 PM

I'm sorry, but I don't appreciate being called a "twit".

How can my torso muscles be more prone as a result?
This is news to me so I do appreciate the heads up.
Thank you.

**w8lifter** · 05-10-2002, 08:11 PM

Originally posted by PowermanDL
I'm sorry, but I don't appreciate being called a "twit".

LOL....just joking around dude

**Twin Peak** · 05-10-2002, 09:05 PM

Hey Mick -- now you see where I am coming from????

DL -- if you read the rest of this thread, you will see why.

**Neil** · 05-11-2002, 12:14 AM

I don't think that is the real powermanDL.

**Training God** · 05-11-2002, 01:20 AM

I'm sorry if I'm being ignorant, but who is the guy you have mentioned?

**Robboe** · 05-11-2002, 07:28 AM

Originally posted by Neil
I don't think that is the real powermanDL.

It's not.

**LittLe FraNk** · 05-15-2002, 11:16 AM

i think a belt is a good idea when lifting heavy but then again i dont lift too heavy cause i dont want to... i think will slowy build my body and keep good form the whole time to eventually build a perfect form.. u know

**BabyArnold** · 05-17-2002, 03:32 PM

Do it if you want, don't do it if you don't want too.....

**CalFit** · 05-18-2002, 11:41 PM

As an avid reader and first time poster to these forums, I have some information that you might find interesting pertaining to this thread.The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has some interesting information regarding backbelts and some of the points in the article have been reinforced already on this board. Enjoy.

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/backbelt.html

**Burner02** · 05-19-2002, 12:34 AM

Guess it is my turn to 'jump onto the band wagon'.
I only use the belt if I start squatting towards my upper limit.

I also see people in the gym wearing belts for all exercises...cannot figure why. Of course, I also see guys wearing gardening gloves for working out in...I see bad form in all stages as well...just keep to myself and do as best as I can...

**sawheet** · 05-19-2002, 06:16 PM

Only use it on the final heavy lift

**LAM** · 05-19-2002, 06:24 PM

I don't use a belt. but when I used to PL I would not use it until I got to over 85% of my 1RM when doing deads or squats. I never used one while benching, I don't see the point.

belts are the #1 misused piece of training equipment.

**Twin Peak** · 05-20-2002, 07:48 AM

Thanks Cal -- very good article. My favorite quote:

"Although back belts are being bought and sold under the premise that they reduce the risk of back injury, there is insufficient scientific evidence that they actually deliver what is promised.

The Institute, therefore, does not recommend the use of back belts to prevent injuries among workers who have never been injured.* If you or your workers are wearing back belts as protective equipment against back injury, you should be aware of the lack of scientific evidence supporting their use."

**davatar** · 05-20-2002, 06:11 PM

You are your best teacher.
Just try it for yourself.. Can you still bend your spine while you belt is tight? Yes. Does it decrease the ROM of your spine? Yes, but who would be bending at those angles during a lift? (People blowing out their spine) Does it actually touch your spine? (not unless you are fat and have very a small erector spinae) The only thing it does is it holds your internal organs in place, a job your abs/obliques/misc muscles should be doing.

How is this going to protect your spine?, can you image a mechanical way in which it could prevent a slipped disc?, once again, the belt does not touch the spine. "It reduces pressure on the spine" Well once you were squatting 200lbs with a belt, because you were maxing out, now you are squatting 400lbs and using a belt because you are maxing out, still use a belt for 200? Your spine didn't get any bigger.

It reduces effort, no need for abs to use energy. If I was moving a fridge or a couch, I'd put it on. If I'm putting a weight on the bar that makes me afraid I'll hurt my spine. I just won't do it.

**Chris_UK** · 05-20-2002, 07:13 PM

I always use a belt. When I first started training I didn't bother, but then it happened! I did damage to my lower back, and ever since I've had to be REALLY careful because it's never been the same again. I was shocked to see people saying "never use one". What about when doing bent over rowing? A belts a must for that one.

**LAM** · 05-20-2002, 07:33 PM

Chris...did you get a MRI ?

I sustained 2 completey herniated discs (S1/S2 and L4/L5) and a fractured vertebrae in a car accident years ago. my orthopedic surgeon told me to stop training and either live with the pain or get surgery. well I started squating again back to square 1 (135 lbs) no belt gong ATF. my back has never felt better and no more sciatica.

the longer you use that belt as a crutch your lower back will not get any stronger.

**Chris_UK** · 05-20-2002, 07:57 PM

Lam, I find if my back is playing up, I have to make sure I use my belt to lift anything until it's ok again. Once it's ok again I have to just make sure I lift everything correctly. But things like bent over rowing, I'll never get away that, without a belt. I don't think it's that my lower back is weak, it's more the case that I lifted wrong. Like when you're really going for the last rep, and your vains are popping out of your head, then you cheat to get that last rep out.

But MRI? I don't know what that is. I must say I didn't do enough damage to need surgery. It just plays up now and then. I don't sound too healthy do I?

**LAM** · 05-20-2002, 09:07 PM

well that sucks about your injury but you should be ok...are you doing any exercises that directly work your low back like good mornings or glute ham raises (http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...eHamRaise.html). if not you should start. also proper training and stretchng of the hamstrings can help alleviate many low back problems.

**Chris_UK** · 05-23-2002, 06:01 PM

Yeah I'll be ok thank's, I'm used to it.

**KnightPredator** · 05-24-2002, 01:24 AM

hehe, belt, hell the only belt that i use is for keeping up my pants, and i can still squat 600 lbs. I had a bad knee, had to start from scratch, and when i started i didnt use a belt. My back has never felt stronger or in better shape.

**Twin Peak** · 05-24-2002, 08:32 AM

Originally posted by KnightPredator
hehe, belt, hell the only belt that i use is for keeping up my pants, and i can still squat 600 lbs. I had a bad knee, had to start from scratch, and when i started i didnt use a belt. My back has never felt stronger or in better shape.

If true, I like this guy already!

**Chris_UK** · 05-25-2002, 09:06 PM

Hmm, not much I can say to that.

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