Do weight training belts really work?

Answered by on Monday, October 5, 2009 at 10:45 AM filed under fitness postings
 While many serious lifters use weight belts because they increase intra-thoracic (also known as intra-abdominal) pressure and therefore allow them to lift more weight, certain experts believe that prêt-à-porter weight belts right off the rack do little to bolster your back. "The only way for the belts to work—mechanically speaking—would be if they were very stiff and custom-made and essentially covered the entire area from the pelvis to the ribs," says John Chaffin, Ph.D., professor of ergonomics at the Center for Ergonomics at the University of Michigan. "It's a great leap of faith to believe that the soft, pliable belts currently on the market will do much to reduce back stress." Lyn Jones, national coaching director for USA Weightlifting at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, calls the belts "essentially cosmetic" and recommends instead that you develop your own musculature around the waist. That means: If you have a superstiff, customized weight belt, use it for heavy lifting, like squats, power cleans and dead lifts—and not for the lighter part of your weight routine. "When you wear a belt during exercises like lat pull-downs, chest presses, and leg curls, you're safeguarding your lumbar spine musculature and your abdominal wall from stresses," says Mark Occipinti, president of American Fitness Professionals & Associates (AFPA). "Without the stress, these muscles actually weaken, thereby increasing your risk for injury when you're not at the gym." To build more muscle stability in your lower back, do exercises such as bent-over rows; for abdominal strength, do crunches.

 Unrated

Follow Us

Explore FitClick
Browse this section for quick links to our calorie counter and other popular diet and fitness features. From diet plans to weight loss programs, FitClick has the content you need to lead a healthy life. Find workout routines, a calorie calculator and more at your source for diet and fitness information.
We have updated our Privacy Policy, effective May 25, 2018. We have done this in preparation for the EU's new data privacy law, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Please take the time to review our updated documentation by clicking on the Privacy Policy link at the bottom of this page. By continuing to use this service on or after May 25, 2018, you agree to our updated Privacy Policy.