What is a lifting belt?

Answer:
You've all seen them if you've been on the

inside of a gym. They are worn by the meatheads doing all of the grunting and growning. They have different types from neoprene to old-school leather.

But what do these lifting belts really provide? When do you need one?

A lifting belt, for the most part, provides support for the lower back, during heavy lifting. The way it does this is by creating pressure inside the lower abdoman. When we do the lift, we take a deep breath upon begining the lift. This air combined with the belt, creates counter pressure in the lower back from the inside.

The lifting belt will also help keep the pressure higher in your abdoman, keeping the pressure out of the lower intestinal wall, helping to prevent a hernia.

When do you need to wear a belt? It is not a good idea to wear your belt for the duration of your workout, as it is thought to increase the blood pressure. So don't just wear it around to look cool. Save that for the braded belt that you wear with your pinstripe 501s. I save my belt for any heavy lifting that creates a great deal of strain on either my abdomen or lower back. These lifts include dead-lift, squat, cable or barbell row, heavy barbell curls, and heavy pull-downs.


	more Q&A sessions like this
	What is a good abdominal workout? What are some good exercises for low-back pain? What is Sciatica? How do you get rid of Varicose Veins? What is power lifting? What are Squats? What is a good Oblique workout? What are some good online diets? How do I save a baby that is choking and conscious? What is a dead lift? What is a Pergola? What are the pros and cons of Clay Tile Roofing? How much does a Clay Tile Roof cost?