Is wearing a belt necessary? Which one?

[SteroidsBro]

For the last month I've had a lot of back pain after deadlifts and I'm wondering if I should be using a belt for deadlifts and squats. I'm only doing 3 plate working sets on deadlifts. I've been really concentrating on form and it's still hurting pretty bad for like a week after 4 sets of deads. If i need a belt, which one should I get? I'm 5'9 200lbs. Thanks.

 

[Brandaddy]

For the last month I've had a lot of back pain after deadlifts and I'm wondering if I should be using a belt for deadlifts and squats. I'm only doing 3 plate working sets on deadlifts. I've been really concentrating on form and it's still hurting pretty bad for like a week after 4 sets of deads. If i need a belt, which one should I get? I'm 5'9 200lbs. Thanks.

I don't really think anyone "needs" a belt. If you really are lifting the weight properly your lower back shouldn't hurt. I feel it more in my hammys, lats, and traps. If you want to buy a belt, I've only tried a few but the Inzer lever belt I got a couple months ago is pretty nice.

 

[Mac11wildcat]

I was never on the belt wagon until a recent injury (my only in the gym, so don’t discount beltless). I had an SI joint strain and after that ordered a Schiek fabric belt as I knew I’d be wearing it every day.

If you’re going to wear one daily, get a fabric one. If you’re short, make sure it’s tapered.

I think newer trainees need to learn to lift without one; to build the core strength and learn proper technique. Then they can move to using a belt near heavy lifts after they learn to properly use one (bracing against it).

Having always been against always wearing a belt, and as a bodybuilder, I now find there to be merit in daily use. I’ve noticed my waist shape staying nicer, my abs being “activated” more often due to the compression, and using the belt to brace in lifts I’d never used it on (especially rows).

 

[Xlgx]

Inzer bodybuilder forever belt.

 

[Vipera1]

Look, if your lower back is hurting every time then you either lift with your back instead of legs, wrong technique, or you push yourself to failure every time.

I'm using belts on squats and deadlifts, but only on my last sets, when I'm pushing really heavy weight, so I would recommend to you to do the same, only use belt on your heaviest sets, so if you do 5 sets, and only the 4th and 5th are your 80%+1RM.

If you dont breath and brace properly, your core is the weak link and then you fuck up your back. Record yourself doing the deadlifts and post it here for review.

 

[Perrin Aybara]

It's either your form and/or you have something wrong with your back. A belt won't help that. You need to figure out what's going on.

 

[Mac11wildcat]

For the last month I've had a lot of back pain after deadlifts and I'm wondering if I should be using a belt for deadlifts and squats. I'm only doing 3 plate working sets on deadlifts. I've been really concentrating on form and it's still hurting pretty bad for like a week after 4 sets of deads. If i need a belt, which one should I get? I'm 5'9 200lbs. Thanks.

Can you define the pain?

If you’re on certain drugs don’t discount them being horrible pumps. If it’s true pain, you need fixed, not a support mechanism.

 

[Test_Subject]

Belts just give you something solid to brace against. They're great tools, but I think that it's important to learn to brace beltless before using one. If lifting without one is causing you pain, your form is likely off.

That said, the Inzer Forever lever belt all day. I've tried the SBD lever belt and it's fantastic, too. But it's double the price.

If you tend to fluctuate in weight a lot, get the single prong buckle version.

 

[TheChosen1]

Like an American Express card, I never leave home without my weight belt. Inzer belts are good. Also Cardillo.

 

[LeoTC]

Not bracing properly.

Grab a belt and learn how to use it. When you breathe in before you pull, should feel like you're trying to break the belt with your abs / obliques.

If it doesn't, you're breathing into your chest.

Stop that.

I'm a fan of training without a belt personally. But always use them with newbies to teach them how to brace properly. Find its the weak point in most people's lifts 9/10.

Other small things, sure, but usually hanky set-up and bracing are the culprit.

An to, nobody that's thrown up record numbers didn't own a belt. Just don't use it as a crutch.

 

[Jak3d]

I bought a nice no Name power lifting belt with a latch from Amazon for $60. After three years the latch broke but picked one up for $25.

 

[balco]

Pioneer and Best make the best belts in the industry, check them out.

SBD makes the only fully adjustable tool-less lever belt if that's something you are interested in. In my opinion that's not an issue because you only need to adjust once every 6 months max.

 

[insaiyan93]

It's most likely something to do with technique, a belt won't help that.

With that being said, after addressing the real source of the problem, whatever it may be., I would say definitely get a belt.

Not a fabric tapered belt, those are bulls hit and are not optimal for moving the most weight.

Just to agree with some others, learning how to brace properly is most important, and training beltless certainly has its place.

Belts let you lift more if you are using them correctly, point blank period. So if your intent is to get stronger than get a good belt and learn how to use it properly for your heavier sets.

I have an inzer forever belt, I got the prong one because you don't need a screw driver to adjust tightness, I like varying tightness for different exercise's so versatility is important to me.

Pioneer, as mentioned, makes great belts, I got one for my girlfriend and she loves it, but I know in some federations they are not competition legal so you may want to check on that if you're gonna compete.

At 5'9 I think a 3" belt would be the way to go, I'm 6'3 and I use a 4" belt but I have a really long torso so it doesn't get in the way for any of my movements.

And I would suggest a 13mm one, they are more heavy dude and provide more support. They take longer to break in and are maybe a little less comfy than the 10mm but I think it's a fair trade off.

 

[SteroidsBro]

Thanks guys, I decided against getting a belt. But now my knee is hurting on squats at the base of my kneecap and I can't continue doing squats.

I just wanted to ask what kind of knee sleeves should I get?

 

[Mac11wildcat]

Thanjs guys, I decided against getting a belt. But now my knee is hurting on squats at the base of my kneecap and I can't continue doing squats.

I just wanted to ask what kind of knee sleeves I should get?

Top or bottom of kneecap?

Sleeves treat the symptom not the cause. Loosen up our glutes, hips, and quads with stretching and rolling with a lax ball. See if that helps.

 

[SteroidsBro]

It's the bottom of the kneecap.

 

[Eman]

It's the bottom of the kneecap.

I've had a ton of problems with my knees since I was just out of highschool. Surgery on one and cortisone in the other to try and postpone another surgery.

I was having a lot of trouble about a year or two ago and figured the surgery route was going to be inevitable. Had X-rays done and the doctor didn't see anything really wrong. Before he ordered more tests, he asked me to give PT a try. The previous doctor had looked at my quads and said PT couldn't be necessary due to my muscle size... Which was really not that impressive imo. I figured PT couldn't hurt, and it was better than going through surgery again.

Learning mobility techniques, a little bit of graston therapy and more mobility was the single most helpful thing I've ever done for my knees. I hadn't been able to squat or deadlift in months... Going up and down stairs hurt like I was 80 years old. Mobility work for 6 weeks addressed all the issues I had. I had to learn mobility in posterior chain movements, mobility in ankles and hips plus tons of stretching. Everything else was the problem and my knees were just the symptom.

TLDR do mobility work like there's no tommorow.. the worst that can happen is you'll still get more mobile and functional.

 

[Brawny]

My squat has jumped from around 315 for a 1rm to about 415 for a 1rm since December, so sometimes I'll get pain like that. Mobility work, foam rolling, and linament oil has helped me push through it. Ice before bed when the inflammation is up

And if your back pain is from pumps, then Taurine preworkout can make a huge difference, especially when blasting.

Also I grabbed my lever belt from Pioneer and I love it. I suggest a 10mm

 

[Roco Bama]

I sprained my lower back 8 years ago. It never been the same afterwards. I can’t do deadlifts without a belt.