The Fitness Belt seems like a must have for any avid Sportsman Strength

The often-heard theory is that a fitness belt helps to keep a correct posture if you train hard. Within the science is still unclear whether a belt really helps to prevent injuries. Well it seems that with a fitness belt just what more could lifts. Note that you do not use too often the belt, because by frequent use you run the risk of under-developed abdominal and back muscles. This is because the belt too much compensates for these muscles. Use a belt so only if you train on or near your maximum power!

What a fitness belt is used?

A fitness belt is widely used by athletes in exercises like the squat and dead lift. The main reason is that athletes think they thus have a better technique and positions during the lifting of heavy weights. The idea behind this is that your muscles and vertebrae are better protected against injuries. At least this is what you usually hear in the gym. But to what extent a fitness belt really helps to reduce the burden and improve the technology so that it reduces the risk of injury?

What happens if you wear a fitness belt?

Besides you wear a belt course for looks -ahum not so- is wearing a belt also affects your posture.

The belt presses the abdomen and back to the inside so that is (possibly) the spine is stabilized. This is similar to the withdrawal of your belly with simultaneously tightening the abdominal muscles. The abdominal muscles in the front and sides are pressed inwards which creates more pressure in the abdominal cavity. The theory is that when you lift weights you have less strain on your lower back and lower vertebrae because the belt provides more stability. This is the theory, but what science has to say about this?

Yet there is already quite done some research into the effect of a belt in work-related situations, but less is known about the effects in athletes. Read a list below the most important research findings from studies in athletes.

pressure belt fitnessBack and intra-abdominal pressure

First, the conclusion of a review article that there is no clear evidence that a fitness belt is dangerous to your attitude or result in additional injuries. In this review the most important studies are combined. The researchers indicate that five of the eight studies on the use of a fitness belt give the indication that a belt during heavy exertion has a slight advantage. Potential benefits include the researchers a lower pressure on the spine, more stability in the lower back, increased mobilization of motor units and a faster power explosion in an elevator. Two of the eight studies show mixed results and the latest research does not show a positive effect. However, I believe that researchers take this quick draw a conclusion and briefly go through the curve, since other studies show different results. So it is not entirely certain whether the intra-abdominal pressure actually leads to a reduction of pressure on the spine. In contrast, what is thought, refute various studies, the theory that a higher intra-abdominal pressure also leads to a relief of the muscles of the lower back.

As you no real consensus within the sport science can read above, and there is still too little known to make it clear statements. Future research should determine whether a belt really has a clear added value to protect your lower back. However, a belt be convenient to compensate for a bad attitude because it keeps the back straighter. Anyway if you already have a bad attitude you should anyway not pack heavy weight.