Exercise Belt Question

[imported_delphi23]

Does an exercise belt help or hinder muscle growth? Is it a crutch that allows you to cheat or is it essential to prevent injury? I don't have any back problems and I maintain good form on all my movements. I was wondering if I needed one.

 

[imported_delphi23]

In addition to the exercise belt, is the use of knee wraps for squats recommended or is that a form of "cheating"?

 

[novicio]

I've got a similar question. What's people's opinion on this?

 

[stevejones]

<div>
(Biou @ Aug. 18 2006,11:45)</div><div id="QUOTEHEAD">QUOTE</div><div id="QUOTE">I've got a similar question. What's people's opinion on this?</div>
I'm against the use of a belt unless you have an injury in your lower back or had a hernia at some point around your waistline.  The only time I wear one is when I'm loading a bar for the deadlift, squat bar or leg press machine.  Then, I take it off when I&quot;m ready to do the lift.  If you have good form and have no injuries I wouldn't use one.  Belts take alot of pressure off the lower back and the abs, which to me isn't good when that's one of the things you're trying to work.

I wouldn't consider knee wraps &quot;cheating&quot;. I mean, after all..this is bodybuilding, not powerlifting. How can a bodybuilder cheat ? He's not competing for any kind of lift. He does what makes the muscle grow, whether that's full ROM half ROM or using whatever equipment he needs. You shouldn't need knee wraps if you're going ATG, as the pressure is taken off the knee when you go that low. However, if they help, then do what you gotta do.

 

[imported_etothepii]

I'll just share what I have recently read, and that is don't use a belt. It takes various core muscles out of the lift. Then, in time, the nervous system is trained to take them out of that motion for good, resulting in poor stability and increasing the risk of injury.

Better to have a strong core than a soft one that relies on a belt.

 

[Lol]

If you can do without one then great.

I sometimes use a belt and sometimes I don't. For the 15s I don't and for the 10s I often don't until I'm into the second week. During 5s I tend to use my belt more. I don't do it up tight but I do use it to build pressure from a diaphragmatic breath. It's like forcing your core to take up the slack in the belt. I happen to like the snug feeling the belt provides during those heavy sets.

 

[Fausto]

I happen to agree with Lol, I think it is a personal matter.

I also like to feel the safety when I ma doing heavy sets, I'll kee pthe belt off as musch as possibel but when taking on heavy weights for deads and squats it is a must at least for me!

 

[liegelord]

I don't use either and I wouldn't recommend them. As stevejones suggested, if your form is good, you shouldn't have a problem, and steve moves some serious weight. Though I've never seen anyone wear a belt just for loading the bar.