So I pulled something in my back deadlifting and I need some light physical therapy to strengthen my back. The physical therapist told me not to use a weight lifting belt anymore during heavy squats and deads. She said that while the belt is better off for good form, it makes your body used to lifting heavy weights under the compression of the belt, and that it may lead to injury in real life when I am lifting a heavy weight or straining myself without the belt. She said that my body will know how to lift in the belt, but the muscles will not fire correctly without it since it is not under the compression of the belt.
Any opinions? Her explanation seems logical, but so many use the belt successfully that I wonder how valid this really is.
Why are you seeing a PT rather than a chiropractor? Just curious. My chiropractor can work wonders with ART.
I’m sure everyone is going to chime in similarly, but belts should be saved for heavy sets – if they should be used at all. This is explained quite nicely in Stuart McGill’s Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance.
I would agree with her to an extent. I do not advocate always wearing a belt. But especially for squats and deads if its a max or near-max lift you want the belt because frankly you can lift more with it. But by all means you should allow the trunk muscles to develop; which will be retarded by always wearing a belt
[quote]AgentOrange wrote:
Why are you seeing a PT rather than a chiropractor? Just curious. My chiropractor can work wonders with ART.
Can’t give you a perfect answer there. I’ve had friends who have gone to see chiropractors, and their problems kept returning. Their methods seemed more therapeutic, and not effective in the long term. I saw an orthopedic doctor and he recommended PT. Plus I’m in school to be a PT so I’m inclined to see one anyway.
[quote]hardwork wrote:
So I pulled something in my back deadlifting and I need some light physical therapy to strengthen my back. [/quote]
Light physical therapy to strengthen the back for heavy deadlifts…hmmm. Probably just poor wording. My guess is that if you had avoided the belt altogether or only used it on near maximal efforts your back would have been strong enough already. That is, after all, one of the benefits of deadlifting.
After your back heals, start back up with the deads, and lose the belt. Really focus on keeping the abs tight throughout the lift. If you haven’t been doing that (which you probably haven’t since you’ve been using the belt) it may take a little while. Start a little lighter than normal, and work your way back up.
Once you get strong, you should consider adding deads from a deficit at a lighter load. This will really strengthen the lower back, and increase your strength out of the bottom position. Good luck.
I don’t even own a belt anymore. If I did, I would use it only for max lifts. I certainly wouldn’t walk around the gym with it on all the time like some of the lat-syndrome guys do. Your therapist is right is saying that lifting with a belt could cause problems when lifting without it.
[quote]Modi wrote:
hardwork wrote:
Light physical therapy to strengthen the back for heavy deadlifts…hmmm. Probably just poor wording. My guess is that if you had avoided the belt altogether or only used it on near maximal efforts your back would have been strong enough already. That is, after all, one of the benefits of deadlifting.
After your back heals, start back up with the deads, and lose the belt. Really focus on keeping the abs tight throughout the lift. If you haven’t been doing that (which you probably haven’t since you’ve been using the belt) it may take a little while. Start a little lighter than normal, and work your way back up.
Once you get strong, you should consider adding deads from a deficit at a lighter load. This will really strengthen the lower back, and increase your strength out of the bottom position. Good luck.[/quote]
Good advice Modi. Deficit lifting hadn’t occured to me, but I will add it in when the time is right. Thanks for the input.
[quote]Modi wrote:
Light physical therapy to strengthen the back for heavy deadlifts…hmmm. Probably just poor wording. My guess is that if you had avoided the belt altogether or only used it on near maximal efforts your back would have been strong enough already. That is, after all, one of the benefits of deadlifting.
After your back heals, start back up with the deads, and lose the belt. Really focus on keeping the abs tight throughout the lift. If you haven’t been doing that (which you probably haven’t since you’ve been using the belt) it may take a little while. Start a little lighter than normal, and work your way back up.
Once you get strong, you should consider adding deads from a deficit at a lighter load. This will really strengthen the lower back, and increase your strength out of the bottom position. Good luck.[/quote]
Agreed, If the belt is the difference between injury or not at some point your going to get injured anyway. If it’s not then why use it at all. I’ll go along with the extra security for max lifts, but even then if you’re out of practice lifting with it it may do more harm than good. Individual thing.
[quote]hardwork wrote:
Modi wrote:
hardwork wrote:
Light physical therapy to strengthen the back for heavy deadlifts…hmmm. Probably just poor wording. My guess is that if you had avoided the belt altogether or only used it on near maximal efforts your back would have been strong enough already. That is, after all, one of the benefits of deadlifting.
After your back heals, start back up with the deads, and lose the belt. Really focus on keeping the abs tight throughout the lift. If you haven’t been doing that (which you probably haven’t since you’ve been using the belt) it may take a little while. Start a little lighter than normal, and work your way back up.
Once you get strong, you should consider adding deads from a deficit at a lighter load. This will really strengthen the lower back, and increase your strength out of the bottom position. Good luck.
Good advice Modi. Deficit lifting hadn’t occured to me, but I will add it in when the time is right. Thanks for the input.[/quote]