Belt or No Belt?

[JesseA]

What is your opinion on weight belts?

I've never used one, but just ordered an EliteFTS retro belt. My reason: I want to squat over 400 lbs, and plan on using it for 90%+ 1RM or 'repping out'.

For those of you who've lifted with a belt, do you think it serves as a safety mechanism, or is it just an aide to lift more weight?

[BRaWNy]

For those of you who've lifted with a belt, do you think it serves as a safety mechanism, or is it just an aide to lift more weight?

For me, as I see it, it is the second (just an aide to lift more weight).

I don't use a belt either, except only for the reason above.

[BendtheBar]

I'm with Brawny. I see it only as an aid for more weight. I own a 4" power belt but use it rarely...only when I am going hardcore on deadlift or squat.

The debate is hot over belt use for others reasons though, as most of you know. Some say it weakens the abs and back, some say it prevents injuries. I'm not really sure if it does either. So let the debate rage on.

Here are a couple study results that hint at applications for weight trainers:

American Airlines' baggage handlers found no difference wearing the belt in terms of injury rates and days off. (from Applied Ergonomics)

A 6-year study of workers at Tinker Air Force Base concluded that workers' injuries while wearing a belt were more expensive than their injuries while not wearing a belt.

[JesseA]

Thanks for your input, I've always been suspect of a simple belt being able to prevent any sort of injury. You would probably need to be in a full back brace that would completely immobilize the lumbar and t-spine to truly prevent an injury.

For me, just the possibility of being able to pull or squat more weight is enough reason to at least own a belt.

I doubt that even if you wore a belt for every lift that ab development would be somehow inhibited, as just by wearing a belt doesn't mean your abs stop firing.

[BRaWNy]

I think excess use of a belt can more easily lead to injury or put some muscles in a risk position, because some muscles do not do the job because of the belt (the belt does the job for them), so they don't have a stimuli needed to become stronger, and they remain weaker proportionally.
You have to use your "physical" belt of the muscles in the area, so that these muscles don't become a weak link in the chain, if you know what I mean.

I work mostly without belt for this reason, but it's OK to wear a belt at the very heavy weights, just to aid for lifting more weight, and it won't have a negative impact to the reason above.

Sorry for my English, sometimes it's a little bit difficult to explain what I think and mean, it's not my "mother" language.

PS.I didn't saw the post of MaB before I posted

[BendtheBar]

Brawny...you English is fine. And we are glad you're hear. Your knowledge is invaluable.

I think your point is key..."excess use" is something I would consider to be bad. I used to wear a belt during every workout, regardless of body part I was training. That to me equals excess in extreme.

[rippednmichigan]

I wear mine on back day just because I have back problems sometimes.

[maokoto]

I have one, but only use it to do weighted pull-ups and chin-ups. I think it is worth having one only for that reason

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by maokoto

I have one, but only use it to do weighted pull-ups and chin-ups. I think it is worth having one only for that reason

I wihs I could do weighted pullups Maybe negative pullups

In all seriousness, I can't stand wearing a belt anymore. I haven't worn one in two years, even when doing max deadlift singles. I know I should, but at the time I just don't think about it.

[bwys61]

Use a belt when training above 85% on squats, and when doing max effort on deadlift. other than that, make the erectors work