The idea of personal fitness is one that has, in recent years, gained tremendous enthusiasm. The pursuit of strength and endurance has brought forth a culture of athletes determined to go longer, lift harder and raise the bar on human potential. There are a number of tools to assist those who desire to extend the limits of personal performance. The weightlifting belt is one tool you can use to increase the amount of weight you lift during a routine.
Power
Wearing a weightlifting belt has been shown to amplify your ability to perform very heavy lifts. Compression created by the belt stabilizes your spine in a way that places it in an ideal position to support enormous loads. Many athletes are, at first, weaker in the lower back than other areas, since little effort is typically directed toward this region in the attempt to build an impressive physique. Wearing a brace can, in such cases, provide you the needed support to lift heavier weights for longer periods of time, without strain or injury.
Stability and Restriction
Weightlifting belts do enhance midsection stability, providing competitive lifters a sound underpinning from which to hoist their load. However, the added restriction also adds a considerable amount of compression to the torso, possibly augmenting blood pressure and increasing the risk of stroke in at-risk individuals. Contrarily, the stiffened posture created by wearing a weightlifting belt does provide an athlete the fortitude to lift a few pounds more than normal. Lifting more means developing stronger muscle in less time.
Misconceptions
Stuart M. McGill, professor of spine biomechanics at the University of Waterloo, Canada, performed an extensive examination of available research regarding the utility of back belts. In "Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance," published in 2004, he states, "Those who have never had a previous back injury appear to have no additional protective benefit from wearing a belt." In the same outline, McGill goes on to declare, "Those who are injured while wearing a belt seem to risk a more severe injury." These findings fly in the face of the popular opinion that wearing a belt when lifting serves to considerably lessen the chance of injury overall.
Safety
While wearing a belt may help to reduce back pain in lifters who have suffered mild injury, doing so alone does not negate the importance of good form. In fact, studies have shown that a weightlifting belt provides the most support when you are lifting in a form that is technically incorrect. For this reason, it may be better to avoid depending on a weight belt for additional torque during lifts and instead focus on developing the personal balance, poise and strength required to achieve your lifting goals.
Abdominal Counter-Reaction
Heavy lifting places your lower back under considerable strain throughout the exercise. This is caused, in part, by additional contractions in the abdominal wall resulting from an increased workload placed upon your body. Therefore, a weightlifting belt can serve to supply your form with the necessary support to withstand such pressure. By pressing against the added rear resistance caused by the belt, your core muscles are strengthened and are then able to support more weight than they could sustain under normal conditions.
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