At one time, Olympic power lifters were the only athletes who commonly used weight lifting belts. Because of the massive weights that were being lifted, this only made good, common sense. But in recent years even those people who lift weights as a hobby have started to see the benefits of wearing these body support aids while they do their workouts.

With the danger of lower back troubles always present, many lifters have started wearing these belts when they lift – just in case. For those people who find that they still have some bad form habits, these belts can ensure that these habits don’t affect their bodies too badly while they’re learning to lift more safely. These belts serve two purposes. First off, they reduce the stress on the lower back when the person lifts weights in an upright position. Secondly, they help to prevent over extending of the back muscles during stressful overhead lifts. Many belts have a wider back area and a narrower front portion. Because these belts work by compressing the areas of the abdominal muscles to give more support to the lower bones of the back, many people turn the belts around so that the wider area presses against the abdominal cavity. Over extension of the back muscles when lifting weights overhead is prevented by the weightlifting belt creating a rigid wall connecting the muscles of the lower torso, hips and rib cage. This support limits back movement and prevents sideways bending and twisting while lifting, which can cause injuries. The wider area of the belt is generally worn at the back in this case. For the effect of the weightlifting belt to be most beneficial it must be worn fastened tightly against the body. Care must be taken however, to ensure that the belt isn’t worn this way for long periods of time. Studies have shown that wearing a tight weight belt can elevate blood pressure while the person is working out. These belts should only be worn tightly during very heavy lifting above the head or in cases where the back muscles are primary lifting muscles as in from a squatting position or deadlift squat. Loosening the belt between sets will allow blood pressure to return to normal levels. For this reason, lifters with heart disease and blood pressure issues should use caution when wearing tight belts for long periods of time. Lifters who depend on wearing these belts while working out, will likely have decreased strength development in the abdominal muscles as these muscles will have a limited range of movement due to the stiffness of the belt. As we all know, having strong abdominal muscles affects the way that our bodies carry and support the weight that we’re lifting during a workout routine. By strengthening and developing the abdominal muscles, we may not require the use of a weightlifting belt as often for the lighter weights we lift during workouts. These belts should be used if the lifter believes that the weight they’re attempting to lift is heavier than they’re used to lifting.