Weightlifting Belts – Is It For Me?
Weightlifting belt is one of the most important equipment in this sport.
In the past, the use of weightlifting belts was a tradition strictly followed in Olympic weightlifting and in power lifting. Presently, the use of weightlifting belts has been adopted by recreational weightlifters who buy these items for safety reasons. In fact, weightlifting belts serve for two purposes mainly: first of all when lifting the weights in the upright position, the back needs to be protected against spinal injury, and secondly, there is an increase in the abdominal pressure that offers stability to the bones of the back and thus the grip and the weight lift improve and become steadier. Other additional benefits result from this kind of usage.
Weightlifting belts reduce the risk of damaging the spinal cord because of the bone shrinkage that usually occurs when lifting weights. Once you reduce the compression of the spinal discs, you’ll create all the premises for a safe and rewarding training. Most weightlifting belts are wider in the part that supports the back and narrower at the front. Such belts can also be worn the other way round for an increase of the intra-abdominal pressure, that is with the wider part in front even if this is more unconventional. Another direct consequence of wearing weightlifting belts is the awareness of the back position; thus, such an equipment item contributes to the correctness of the posture.
You don’t have to wear weightlifting belts for all the exercises; submaximal and maximal lifts are the only ones to require the use of the items. Plus, there is a downside to using weightlifting belts extensively: the appearance of hypertension. Wear the belt moderately and only for the exercises that really need it. Lightweight lifting does not even need such a gear item, to give just an example of when to leave the belt out of the training.
Another downside associated with the use of the weightlifting belts is the strength decrease of the abdominal muscles; don’t ignore this aspect because the stability of the trunk depends on it. This part of the body is less stimulated because of the belt and therefore tends to lose its strength. Consequently, although it prevents injuries at the lower back, a weightlifting belt should not turn into a must-wear accessory. Be sure when to wear it and how to wear it in order to achieve great results.
