Weightlifting has it’s own equipments for exercise like other sports and activities. Most well known is the weightlifting belt…
Opinions are shared about the efficiency of weightlifting belts and the capacity of these devices to enhance the safety level. One main problem is that weightlifting belts allow athletes to lift more than they should. Another criticism against belts is that they back muscles responsible for body stability and the gripping muscles of the forearms don’t get the same stimulation and lose during training. In some other people’s opinion, weightlifting belts promote better stability and protection against various training risks. Normally, weightlifting belts have been designed to support the back effort and reduce the risk of damaging the spinal cord while exercising.

Pros claim that it’s a good habit to wear weightlifting belts particularly in competitions, although the equipment is widely available and used by amateurs too. By the support provided to the back, the spine remains in a good posture and no damage occurs at the level of the soft tissues; there is however a problem. The long term and short term impact of wearing weightlifting belts is pretty serious. These equipment items can increase the intra-abdominal pressure beyond accepted levels. Yes, the intestinal muscles are indeed protected against injuries, but you could develop hypertension because of the tightness of the belt.

The weightlifting belts are available in various designs, allowing adjustments to the pressure level and the body height. The weightlifting belts designed for power lifting are more special than the rest as they have to provide a superior kind of protection. Usually made of leather, such belts are braced by neoprene. You may find out which belt fits you best by talking to a fitness expert who can recommend an item to match your physiognomy and your training objectives. Besides leather and neoprene, weightlifting belts are also made of nylon or cotton, and may be padded or not padded. The sizes on the other hand range from XS and S to XL and XXL.

Other than back protection, weightlifting belts have no other contribution to the athletic performance. And contrary to the common belief that they help one train better, studies bring evidence against such opinions. Studies conducted at the Albany Medical Center, N.Y., reported little difference between the improvement made by weightlifters who wore belts and weightlifters who wore nothing. It seems that in the absence of the belts, the strength of the back and abdomen muscles is higher, and this study seems to support criticism and destroy false claims and opinions. Even so, wearing weightlifting belts is very frequent among amateurs, and there is no harm to this tendency as long as they are not used in excess.