Weight lifting belt

What is the purpose of a weight lighting belt? Do you wear one? I heard that you will get back problems in the future if you don't.

I am pretty sure that the belt helps take the pressure off of your lower back by distributing it throughout your abdomen. I wear one every time I do squats, cleans, or anything that puts pressure on my lower back. As for you getting back problems later on, I don't really know for sure, but I would say that putting that much pressure on your back couldn't be a good thing.
-Kyle

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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit."
-Aristotle

ORIGINAL: GTDude

I am pretty sure that the belt helps take the pressure off of your lower back by distributing it throughout your abdomen. I wear one every time I do squats, cleans, or anything that puts pressure on my lower back. As for you getting back problems later on, I don't really know for sure, but I would say that putting that much pressure on your back couldn't be a good thing.
-Kyle

It's supposed to support your back.  The belt is mainly used to prevent you from having a hernia (spelling?).  This increases your stability and helps you do the exercise with better form.  Like squats or deadlifts for example. 

ohh ok. That makes sense.

3rd place discuss bodybuilding transformation comp.
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit."
-Aristotle

Hey check this new study out.  It's from ACE FITNESS saying that there are new studies saying Weightlifting belts aren't that advisable anymore.  Whatyaguys think?
 
http://www.acefitness.org/fitfacts/fitbits_display.aspx?itemid=101
 
Support Wanes for Weightlifting Belts
Weightlifting belts do little to improve performance, concluded researchers at the Albany Medical Center in Albany, N.Y., after comparing the progress of 50 weightlifters, half of whom wore weightlifting belts.
 
All the men followed the same program, and their results were essentially the same. But there was an important difference: The men who did not use the weightlifting belt had better abdominal and back strength.
 
These results echo a previous study that found little to support the use of these belts.
 
While an individual may be able to lift about 20 percent more weight when they wear a back belt, this does not translate to 20 percent more protection for the spine.
Furthermore, other studies have found that the constant use of back belts leads to reliance as torso and back muscles begin to atrophy over time.
 
Only power lifters or those who lift extremely heavy weights appear to benefit from the use of weightlifting belts. But even these individuals would be better off doing their daily training without the aid of a belt.
 
Source: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Annual Meeting, New Orleans, La.

ORIGINAL: builtdarntough150

Your back is the weakest muscle in your body, so the belt keeps it from overstraining and have you walking on crutches in 2 years. Trust me, its a good thing to use one.

 
Only true if you don't work it. Try doing Straight legged deadlifts. Start off light tho, and don't forget to stretch. That's the biggest misconception, the back CAN be very strong. It's just that when someone goes outside and picks up a shovel they throw their back out because they never work it. You WANT a strong lower back because there is a lot of leverage on it, making it easier to injure only if its not strong. As for the weight belt, I ALWAYS use one when I deadlift. It keeps the back straight, because you want to have a flat back, as when you squat.

Age: 21
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 238
Bench 365
Deadlift: 485

the belt helps keep good posture while lifting heavy weight.  And yes it could possibly hurt you later on if you dont use one.

Here's my two cents on weightlifting belts-
The belt doesn't actually support any of the weight- So saving your back from pressure is a myth. If you have four hundred pounds on your shoulders while squatting, that weight is still supported by your spine- Not the belt- and your spine can handle it just fine.
What the belt does is this- Provides some extra resistance when worn correctly, preventing forward/backward swaying throughout a movement, which should really be the job of your abs and lower back. Without that extra work, those areas aren't going to be as strong as they could be- Squats and deadlifts give your abs and lower back a real nice workout, but if you're wearing a belt, they're missing out- And it'll show in time.
Case in point- I knew someone who worked out with a belt all the time, while I never use one. Me, I never get back injuries and can lift the same amount as him- But when he decided to take the belt off and attempt to lift the same amount of weight he was used to, he damn near sent himself to the hospital.
I also know plenty of guys who wear belts while working to avoid injury- The thing is, their bodies get used to moving stuff with the added support of the belt, and as soon as you try to lift something heavy without it, your body's not up to the task...
If you ask me, I prefer to work out without one, but instead I pay close attention to the proper form and don't go nuts with trying to lift more than I should. You have to learn how to listen to your body, and act accordingly, instead of relying on equipment to protect your muscles.

ORIGINAL: cpl

Here's my two cents on weightlifting belts-
The belt doesn't actually support any of the weight- So saving your back from pressure is a myth. If you have four hundred pounds on your shoulders while squatting, that weight is still supported by your spine- Not the belt- and your spine can handle it just fine.
What the belt does is this- Provides some extra resistance when worn correctly, preventing forward/backward swaying throughout a movement, which should really be the job of your abs and lower back. Without that extra work, those areas aren't going to be as strong as they could be- Squats and deadlifts give your abs and lower back a real nice workout, but if you're wearing a belt, they're missing out- And it'll show in time.
Case in point- I knew someone who worked out with a belt all the time, while I never use one. Me, I never get back injuries and can lift the same amount as him- But when he decided to take the belt off and attempt to lift the same amount of weight he was used to, he damn near sent himself to the hospital.
I also know plenty of guys who wear belts while working to avoid injury- The thing is, their bodies get used to moving stuff with the added support of the belt, and as soon as you try to lift something heavy without it, your body's not up to the task...
If you ask me, I prefer to work out without one, but instead I pay close attention to the proper form and don't go nuts with trying to lift more than I should. You have to learn how to listen to your body, and act accordingly, instead of relying on equipment to protect your muscles.

 
That's what I'm talkin' about.   More proof that we should think twice before being too reliant on external equipment to protect our bodies..

Why has no one mentioned that lift belts prevent hernias? That would be there greatest advantage. The belt dissapates pressure throughout the users torsoe. I am a little guy (165lbs) and I am deadlifting over 400lbs now. I am a little worried about a hernia so I am going to use a lift belt. The pros dont use lift belts all the time only for very heavy lifting. Usage such as this will not hurt performance at all. Actually they allow an individual to complete a lift that would normally cause injury to the user. Without relying on external equipment you will get left in the dust...

The problem is that too many people use them too often.  I've always had a weak back and I never use a belt - why?  Because I want to strengthen my back - not protect it by using an artificial 'crutch' - but that's just my personal opinion.

I agree with you. There so many people using it too often.

To wear or not to wear weight lifting belt?

yeah I think you should. But I suggest you change your way of lifting the weights from the ground,
When Lifting from the ground, straighten your back and bend your knees as you try to reach for the weights, as you pull the weight up, don't arch your back, and try to use the force of your legs to bring the weights up until your legs are straight...easy
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