Weightlifting Belts
Opinions are shared about the efficiency of weightlifting belts and the capacity of these devices to enhance the safety level. The main criticism against weightlifting belts is that they allow athletes to lift more than they should thus reducing the safety of the exercises. Another criticism against belts is that they back muscles responsible for body stability and the gripping muscles of the forearms don't get the same stimulation and lose during training. According to positive opinions, weightlifting belts promote better stability and protection against various training risks. Normally, they prevent injuries to the back and the spinal cord by taking over some of the pressure.
Pros claim that it's a good habit to wear weightlifting belts particularly in competitions, although the equipment is widely available and used by amateurs too. By the support provided to the back, the spine remains in a good posture and no damage occurs at the level of the soft tissues; there is however a problem. The long term and short term impact of extensive usage of weightlifting belts should not be neglected either. You should not exaggerate with the use of weightlifting belts because they increase the intra-abdominal pressure too much. Yes, the intestinal muscles are indeed protected against injuries, but you could develop hypertension because of the tightness of the belt.
The weightlifting belts are available in various designs, allowing adjustments to the pressure level and the body height. The weightlifting belts designed for power lifting are more special than the rest as they have to provide a superior kind of protection. Usually made of leather, such belts are braced by neoprene. You may find out which belt fits you best by talking to a fitness expert who can recommend an item to match your physiognomy and your training objectives. Besides leather and neoprene, weightlifting belts are also made of nylon or cotton, and may be padded or not padded. As for the sizes available, they range from XS and S to XL and XXL.
Besides safety, weightlifting belts do very little to improve the athletes' performance. And despite the common belief that they help one train better, studies debunk this myth. Studies conducted at the Albany Medical Center, N.Y., reported little difference between the improvement made by weightlifters who wore belts and weightlifters who wore nothing. It seems that in the absence of the belts, the strength of the back and abdomen muscles is higher, and this study seems to support criticism and destroy false claims and opinions. Even so, wearing weightlifting belts helps amateurs a lot, on the one condition that they not be worn extensively.