Weight Lifting Belt
The Weight Lifting Belt for the back is almost in every gym, where there are necessarily both opponents and fans of this attribute.
Why do I need a Weight Lifting belt
Most often it is worn during the performance of strength exercises with large weights. As a rule, it is used by professional bodybuilders and powerlifters. Squat with a barbell, rod in the slope to the belt, deadlift, lifting the bar above your head - these Exercises are quite traumatic and have a heavy load on the spine, especially on the lower back.
Wearing the Weight Lifting belt, the bodybuilder tightens it, thereby increasing the intra-abdominal pressure (pressure inside the abdomen), which fixes the spine and intervertebral discs of the lumbar region. That is, the belt helps stabilize the muscles of the waist, which prevents possible injuries.
Every bodybuilder decides himself whether he needs a belt. But it should be noted that in our body there is a natural "belt", the role of which is played by the muscles of the abdomen and, to a lesser extent, by the muscles of the lower back. The transverse abdominal muscle is responsible for the regulation of intra-abdominal pressure, and hence for protecting the lumbar vertebrae from the loads. A strong inflated press can replace a Weight Lifting belt if you lift weights within reasonable limits and do not want to jump "above your head".
Features of training with a Weight Lifting belt
With the constant wearing of the athletic belt, your own muscles stop working in full, lose their tone and then the option is possible that without a belt you will not be able to fully exercise. Having got used to a belt, in the future there is a danger to break even under small loads. Therefore, it is better to use it moderately, only for working with large weights. It is advisable to train the muscles of the press and back, which will allow you to lift the right weight without the risk of injury.
For those who are still afraid to damage the back, a pattern of training with a gradual wean from the waist is possible. The purpose of this scheme is to strengthen your body, reduce the time of wearing the belt with each workout, minimize it, leave the belt only for the heaviest exercises, where it really will be needed.
Some athletes note another nuance: when working without a belt, the abdominal muscles tighten and retract, and when using a belt, these same muscles "protrude" the abdomen. Thus, constant training with a belt not only weakens their original muscles but also accustoms them to work in a different way. In case of refusal from the belt, athletes must be retrained and returned to the usual technique.
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Variety of Weight Lifting Belts
There are two types of Weight Lifting Belts:# 1. Heavy-Weight Lifting Belt
The belt has a different width, the wider part it adjoins to the waist, the narrower - to the stomach. These belts are flexible enough and convenient for exercises, where you need to work on the slope. Often used in bodybuilding.
# 2. Belt for powerlifting
The belt, equally wide along the entire length, is designed for powerlifting. It should be worn as low as possible, closer to the pelvic bones, the belt should sit tightly. Its width is usually 10 cm, such restrictions are prescribed by the rules of the competition. This belt is thicker, sturdy and massive. Ideal for exercises where you need to keep your back straight.
How to choose Weight Lifting Belts
To correctly choose a Weight Lifting Belt, you need to pay attention to the following parameters:# 1. material
The belt can be made of genuine leather, various imitation leather or synthetic materials. An important factor in choosing a material is the tensile strength. The leather belt is the most durable and reliable in this respect. To work with small scales fit and synthetic belts on Velcro.
It is very good to try on the belt when buying or at least remove the tags with a centimeter tape. If the buckle of the belt is fastened to the middle fixing holes, this size will be ideal. Over time, body weight and volume may vary and it may be necessary to pull or loosen the strap by several divisions. Usually for a waist with a volume of 62-80 cm you need to choose an S size belt, for a Waist of 72-90 cm size M, L-k fit at the waist 82-100 cm, XL - at 92-110 cm, XXL - at 102-120 cm But there are manufacturers who have their own dimensional grid, so before buying, carefully read the packaging or consult the seller.
This can be a traditional buckle, a carabiner clip or a Velcro. As already noted above, belts with Velcro fit for moderate weights. In other cases, it is better to choose a conventional buckle or carabiner. Some athletes consider the latter to be more convenient and reliable, others do not trust automatic clasps.
In addition, the weightlifting belt can be additionally equipped with a chain for weights.