Was it the Belt that Did the Damage...

Bigger Stronger Leaner Injuries and Rehab
1

So I was out at my mate’s (pretty good powerlifter) house lifting last sunday. Doing squats using a belt for only the second time. My lifting numbers arent great but basically I was doing my 10rm.
When I finished the third set I felt a pain in my right side, just at the bottom of my last rib (on the right).

I started some benching soon after and the pain progressed.

So now it’s saturday and I’m still in pain (got worse mon,tue,wed etc.).

Just wondering if any of you guys had this problem/pain before after using a belt for the first time? Or ever?
Maybe I trapped some muscle or tissue between the belt and my ribs while at the bottom of the squat??

Any info will help.

ps. The pain is beginning to subside, but I really want to avoid repeating this.

/rich

2

Never heard about it, but if it hurts stop doing whatever you are doing that it’s making it worse.

Last time i pulled my back doing back extensions after a heavy deadlift session. I kept through the pain, after that i couldn’t barely walk straight for about almost 1 entire week.

3

[quote]kaisermetal wrote:
Never heard about it, but if it hurts stop doing whatever you are doing that it’s making it worse.

Last time i pulled my back doing back extensions after a heavy deadlift session. I kept through the pain, after that i couldn’t barely walk straight for about almost 1 entire week.[/quote]

Hey Kaiser,
Yeah I did the same while deadlifting last oct, took nearly 2 weeks for me to get back to it.
I have skipped the gym completely this week (except for a little cardio), and I think I’ll just wait and see how it feels for tuesdays session (shoulders).

Only other problem is that I play music and when we gig I end up haulin around amps and equipment, lots of stooping etc…tonight was a bitch, and tomorrow will be too. I might see about getting someone to help with the gear, would save more down time.

4

i had the same pain for awhile man, and it does go away, but it takes a long ass time.

what happened to me was that i was wearing my belt too low(i had one of the belts with the big back) and it squeezed the flesh between the same rib you mentioned and the belt itself.

Solution that worked for me: Dont use a belt for a couple MONTHS

5

[quote]Sarev0k wrote:
i had the same pain for awhile man, and it does go away, but it takes a long ass time.

what happened to me was that i was wearing my belt too low(i had one of the belts with the big back) and it squeezed the flesh between the same rib you mentioned and the belt itself.

Solution that worked for me: Dont use a belt for a couple MONTHS[/quote]

Thanks Sarev0k
Yeah that’s it, it’s gotta be. The belt I was wearing was one of those thick heavy black ones that doesn’t really shape to your body (really stiff).

Anyway I’ll stay away from belts in general for a while, not worth the pain.

Any tips on pain relief? Keep pressure on it, or just give it time?

6

Time I would say is #1. Keep your workouts goin, It’ll hurt still for awhile but it’ll slowly make its way back to normal.

Like I said, it was over a span of about 2 months, so i got massages now and then too. Only if you can handle it though

7

use your abs not a belt. the only times i have hurt my back lifting is when I was using a belt. Since i have ditched the belt my squats and deads have steadily improved and my back pain is negligible. use your abs, they’re the best belt money can’t buy.

9

[quote]bushidobadboy wrote:
Don’t use a belt. They are outdated and unnecessary IMO. You’ll get a stronger core without one.

BBB[/quote]

That’s his opinion. Do whatever make you feel safer and more stable.

I prefer using a placebo that make me more focused than using nothing and hurting myself more. But then again, i don’t have BBB experience in this matter.

10

[quote]Sarev0k wrote:
Time I would say is #1. Keep your workouts goin, It’ll hurt still for awhile but it’ll slowly make its way back to normal.

Like I said, it was over a span of about 2 months, so i got massages now and then too. Only if you can handle it though[/quote]

Gonna keep going (carefully) with the w/o’s, I was feeling a bit better tonight…even tho I had to carry my gf to bed (pissed) after driving back in the rain from a gig :frowning:

Bet I wont even get condolence sex…and with the hangover she defo won’t want a fappachino in the mornin.
Damnit!

[quote]PDJD wrote:
use your abs not a belt. the only times i have hurt my back lifting is when I was using a belt. Since i have ditched the belt my squats and deads have steadily improved and my back pain is negligible. use your abs, they’re the best belt money can’t buy.[/quote]

That’s true too, letting the belt take responsibility for stabilization is a bad move.
Unless maxing out maybe…?

For now anyway, I’m gonna shy away from the belt

[quote]kaisermetal wrote:

[quote]bushidobadboy wrote:
Don’t use a belt. They are outdated and unnecessary IMO. You’ll get a stronger core without one.

BBB[/quote]

That’s his opinion. Do whatever make you feel safer and more stable.

I prefer using a placebo that make me more focused than using nothing and hurting myself more. But then again, i don’t have BBB experience in this matter.[/quote]

I too feel like a placebo keeps me focused, so it may have it’s place further down the road but for now I’ll keep working on upping core strength.

Thanks for all the advice posted,
appreciate it.
Live long and pain free, men of iron.

/rich

11

[quote]bushidobadboy wrote:
Don’t use a belt. They are outdated and unnecessary IMO. You’ll get a stronger core without one.

BBB[/quote]

Try telling that to a 1000# squatter. I bet they dis-agree.

12

I get bruising from my belt sometimes if I am wearing tight as hell. I remember having rib pain 1 or 2 times before, but never like that.

In regards to when to use the belt, I typically won’t use it until I’m getting higher into my lifts, ie 90-100%+ effort

13

[quote]coolnatedawg wrote:
I get bruising from my belt sometimes if I am wearing tight as hell. I remember having rib pain 1 or 2 times before, but never like that.

In regards to when to use the belt, I typically won’t use it until I’m getting higher into my lifts, ie 90-100%+ effort[/quote]

I think that’ll be my policy if I do go back to try it out again…only for 90%+

I was only using the belt to see if it made much difference.

Ye it did help, but at a price this time. And I did have it “tight as hell” as you put it O

14

‘Tight as hell’ typically means I am using a rack and 1 or 2 other people to help me get it on. So definitions vary.

15

[quote]coolnatedawg wrote:
‘Tight as hell’ typically means I am using a rack and 1 or 2 other people to help me get it on. So definitions vary. [/quote]

Yeah, that’s it. I was leaning against a car and my mate was pushin the buckle in to close it.
And I couldn’t open it after (was gettin a bit anxious actually), but I got help lol

16

[quote]ruglayer09052000 wrote:

[quote]bushidobadboy wrote:
Don’t use a belt. They are outdated and unnecessary IMO. You’ll get a stronger core without one.

BBB[/quote]

Try telling that to a 1000# squatter. I bet they dis-agree.[/quote]

1000# squatter is 1000# squatter because he didn’t use a belt until he did this kind of BIG lifts…

17

[quote]RichieDC wrote:
So I was out at my mate’s (pretty good powerlifter) house lifting last sunday. Doing squats using a belt for only the second time. My lifting numbers arent great but basically I was doing my 10rm.
When I finished the third set I felt a pain in my right side, just at the bottom of my last rib (on the right).

I started some benching soon after and the pain progressed.

So now it’s saturday and I’m still in pain (got worse mon,tue,wed etc.).

Just wondering if any of you guys had this problem/pain before after using a belt for the first time? Or ever?
Maybe I trapped some muscle or tissue between the belt and my ribs while at the bottom of the squat??

Any info will help.

ps. The pain is beginning to subside, but I really want to avoid repeating this.

/rich[/quote]
did exactly the same thing myself a couple of months ago. constant pain all the time, turned out i had a small muscle tear right next to the rib. took a couple of weeks off (no choice) and avoided squats for a month. all better now but still wary of using the belt though.

18

[quote]alit4 wrote:
did exactly the same thing myself a couple of months ago. constant pain all the time, turned out i had a small muscle tear right next to the rib. took a couple of weeks of (no choice) and avoided squats for a month. all better now but still wary of using the belt though.
[/quote]

I’m beginning to think it’s more common than I originally thought.

Google found nothing on the subject but it seems a few guys here have had similar belt related issues…hmm

Had a sucessful shoulder w/o tonight and the pain is further regressing, giggidy giggidy…alraaight!

Still wont be deadlifting (90%+) for another week tho… (sadface)

19

[quote]Simonidas wrote:

[quote]ruglayer09052000 wrote:

[quote]bushidobadboy wrote:
Don’t use a belt. They are outdated and unnecessary IMO. You’ll get a stronger core without one.

BBB[/quote]

Try telling that to a 1000# squatter. I bet they dis-agree.[/quote]

1000# squatter is 1000# squatter because he didn’t use a belt until he did this kind of BIG lifts…
[/quote]

Gotta disagree man. Just trained with a guy who squatted 600 in front of me and he def wears a belt all the time while squatting. Obviously it goes either way, but i dont think a belt helps you actually get more weight up.

Some people are calling out belt usage on here like its a fucking bench shirt or something. I wear a belt so my abs are locked in tight, and so i don’t get abdominal/umbilical hernia (ive already had hernia surgery once before and it’s not a minor thing.)

20

[quote]Simonidas wrote:

[quote]ruglayer09052000 wrote:

[quote]bushidobadboy wrote:
Don’t use a belt. They are outdated and unnecessary IMO. You’ll get a stronger core without one.

BBB[/quote]

Try telling that to a 1000# squatter. I bet they dis-agree.[/quote]

1000# squatter is 1000# squatter because he didn’t use a belt until he did this kind of BIG lifts…
[/quote]

I remember squatting 225 for 4 with a belt, and now that I can squat 315 for 8 with a belt, 225 is easy even without one.