Weight Belts … Friend or Foe ?
I was given Stuart McGill’s Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance by a client , great book. After reading the chapter discussing this I bring it to you . Personally , Iam not a fan of the weight belt . To me it’s a “wait” and see belt , wait to see how deconditioned your back is after using it. When I see gym goers weraing them I shutter.
Here are some of the key points of Stuart McGill’s research :
If you never injured your back, wearing a belt adds no safety.
If you injure yourself while wearing a belt, the injury is more severe.
To get the most out of weight belts, you must lift with bad technique.
If you want to lift a few more pounds, wear a weight belt.
What do you think ? Friend or Foe ?
Hi Chloe,
I do not use it and would advise any client against it.
I teach my clients to protect their spine without further need for external support and only use the amount of resistance that can be handled without compromising that goal.
Having said that, if people are in competition where they go to the limits of their strength, then there is a place for those belts. But even there, I would hope that the athletes would do all they can to work the stabilizing muscles to the greatest extent possible.
Karin Singleton
www.meltnc.com