
Originally Posted by
OldUncle
I don't wear a belt. The compelling arguments are twofold:
First, they make your blood pressure go up significantly while you are lifting. That's the trivial one, but it is a fact.
Second, they limit the adaptive stress of the exercise. I want a strong back, not legs that can handle 700 pounds and a back so brittle that 225 blows out a disk. Belts make you weak. (I do wear one in competition - it's worth maybe 25 pounds on my squat).
PS, I've blown out two disks maybe 15 years ago, suffered with sciatica for years, etc. But ever since I started doing heavy squat, good morning, stiff legs, power cleans, and all the other 'must wear a belt' exercises without one I've never had another back problem.