Weight lifting belts, to use or not to use?
A Bit of History on Belts… Weightlifters popularized weightlifting belts at the turn of the last century. They found they felt stronger with a belt on and subsequently were able to lift more weight. And for some, a weight belt can be much like Linus (on Charlie Brown) and his blanket he simply can’t go without and neither can they. What is undeniable is the “psychological” support a belt brings, particularly to people with a history of back problems. Remember the last time you did squats, for example. You probably lift more weight on this exercise than any other. What you might not realize, however, is the lower back could not be in a more susceptible position (if you’re off by even just a fraction with your technique). Yet, if your focus is on the vulnerability of your back the entire time, you might as well forget lifting anything more than a few pounds. Thus, you might have decided to tighten your belt before slapping a few extra plates on the bar. While the belt may make you thin
