How and When to Use a Lifting Belt
by Adam Toffan , M.Sc, NSCA-CSCS, CSEP-CPT Assistant Fitness Training and Assessment Coordinator, Recreation Services at the University of Manitoba Many people work on their strength with weightlifting. It's a well-known fact lifting heavier weights comes with an increased risk of back injury if your technique fails. This risk has led to increased use of lifting belts. In this post, I want to go over weightlifting belt basics including how the belt works, when you should use one, and how to wear it. How Lifting Belts Work Lifting belts have been known to reduce the risk of orthopedic injury and improve lifting performance. When lifting, it is recommended to hold your breath until the end of the push using the Valsalva maneuver . This maneuver increases thoracic, abdominal pressure to support the spine. Holding the breath and bracing allows lifters to move heavier weight without hurting themselves, and wearing a belt adds even more abdominal pressure to support the s