EndurElite Chief Endurance Officer Matt Mosman discusses when athletes should and should not wear a weight belt when strength training.
What Are Weight Lifting Belts For?
Ever wonder when you should and shouldn’t wear a weight belt when strength training?
- According to the NSCA (National Strength And Conditioning Association), an athlete should wear a weight belt when performing exercises that place stress on the lower back (i.e. squats, deadlifts) AND during sets that involve near maximal or maximal loads.
- A weight belt IS NOT needed for exercises that do not stress the lower back or for those that do stress the lower back but involve light loads.
- When used in conjunction with proper lifting form, weight belts can significantly decrease the risk of injury when lifting heavy.
