Weight lifting belts come in different shapes, sizes and materials, ranging from the traditional leather power lifting belts with a metal buckle to nylon belts with Velcro. Some belts are narrower in the front than they are in the back, which allows for more movement for Olympic style lifts, while others are the same width all around to provide maximum intra abdominal stability while lifting.
Leather Power Lifting Style Belts
These belts are same width throughout and wrap around the waist from rib cage to torso. The belt forms a barrier around the lower back and abdominal wall and keeps your body from bending sideways while lifting. They also allow for your body to handle more weight and can safely increase your intra abdominal pressure by 25 percent, allowing you to lift more.
Olympic Style Lifting Belts
These belts are more narrow in the front than they are in the back to allow mobility for Olympic style lifts without impeding free motion on movements such as cleans and jerks. These belts still give good support for the lower back, but not as much intra abdominal support due to being more narrow for the sake of mobility.
Narrow Nylon Belts
These belts do not offer as much support as the traditional wide power lifting or Olympic lifting belts but offer maximum mobility, and some athletes like to use them while doing lifts such as bench presses and seated presses.
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