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For those looking to take their workout to the next level, there is a range of different accessories that allow you to extract more out of your session. And with the market growing year on year, finding the right option for your needs is half the challenge.
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Why should you use a powerlifting or bodybuilding belt for training?
For those looking to take their workout to the next level, there are a range of different accessories that allow you to extract more out of your session. And with the market growing year on year, finding the right option for your needs is half the challenge. Within these collections, powerlifting and bodybuilding belts (commonly called weightlifting belts) have become crowd-favourites.
Offering supportive benefits across the board, there’s plenty to love about these accessories. But do they work and what are the advantages you can expect to gain from using them? In this post, we explore these accessories to give you a run-through on how they can aid your workouts and power up those personal bests.
Powerlifting vs. bodybuilding belts – what’s the difference? At first glance, these belts look very similar. But there are actually a few key differences. For starters, a powerlifting belt is the same width all the way along, whereas a bodybuilding belt is typically wider at the back and narrower at the front. Essentially, powerlifting versions are usually thicker and heavier, while general bodybuilding of weightlifting designs are lighter and typically padded at the back.
Depending on your focus, the powerlifting belt may be the ideal choice for giving more back support, allowing you to press your abdominal wall into the belt for further intra-abdominal pressure. In comparison, contoured weightlifting belts won’t offer the same level of support but tend to deliver a wider range of movement and be a little more comfortable instead. If you’re not a powerlifter, something like the Spartan Olympic Belt below offers an all-round general support to your compound and accessory movements.
Can they do more harm than good? Like all must-have gym gear for bodybuilding, these belts can mask core weaknesses if not used correctly. Therefore, before getting started with a new accessory like this, it is important to understand how they affect your body and support your overall goals. For example, it’s advised that these belts are only worn by those looking to incorporate heavier lifts into their sessions.
Core activation While some will argue that using these belts weakens your core, there are other studies that suggest they may actually strengthen it. The debate will always continue and the known impact on this area of your body is still not 100% clear. Because of this, it’s especially important to keep an eye on how much you're relying on the accessory during your workouts.
In the short term, however, wearing a weightlifting belt can increase the EMG activity in the rectus abdominis, with increased muscle activation in the obliques and the lats as well.
