Deadlifts and weight belts = poor form?

Only been lifting about a year but I feel its a personal choice. I see a lot of guys do most of their lifting without belts and then wear one when they are going really heavy.

Nobody has perfect form every time.

I used to be a powerlifter and I only used the belt on the heaviest of lifts. I would use the belt on any lift where the reps were 3 or less to fatigue. The belt gives support and the abdominal wall having pressure on it creates internal pressure and there by creating more stability.

I used to be a powerlifter and I only used the belt on the heaviest of lifts. I would use the belt on any lift where the reps were 3 or less to fatigue. The belt gives support and the abdominal wall having pressure on it creates internal pressure and there by creating more stability.

I've never lifted for reps with a belt, only for max testing. It helps with the valsalva maneuver. Other than that, it becomes a crutch. There's no need for it!

How does it become a crutch? I guess knee wraps are a crutch too?

Because then you aren't relying on your own abdominal wall to create pressure to support your spine. Anything that adds bounce/support/resistance against the weight can become a crutch. Personally I have always lifted raw, no point in wearing a 20-ply denim shirt that pulls my arms up for me when I'm benching.

The NSCA position on weight belts from Exercise Technique Manual for Resistance Training, Second Edition:

"The use of a weight belt can contribute to injury-free training. Its appropriateness is based on the type of exercise and the relative load lifted. If a weight belt is worn, it is most appropriate to do so in these situations:
--During exercises that place stress on the low back (e.g., back squat, front squat, deadlift)
--During sets with near-maximal or maximal loads
Both conditions should exist; it is not necessary, for example, to wear a weight belt when lifting lighter loads even when performing an exercise that places stress on the low back. This strategy may reduce the risk of injuries to the low back, but only when combined with correct exercise technique and proper spotting. Note that some people may have increased blood pressure as a result of wearing a weight belt. Elevated blood pressure is associated with dizziness and fatigue and could result in headaches, fainting, or injury. Additionally, it is recommended that people with hypertension or any preexisting cardiovascular condition not wear a weight belt because doing so might lead to a heart attack or stroke."

From Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, Third Edition, Chapter 14 Resistance Training and Spotting Techniques

"A drawback to weight belt use is that wearing a belt too often reduces the opportunities for the abdominal muscles to be trained."

The professor (who is also a CSCS with a Doctorate in Exercise Science and the Strength and Conditioning Coach for all sports at my school) who taught my Resistance Training Program Design class stated specifically in our class that Athletes should never wear a weight belt because they have to train their abdominal muscles to be able to handle any situation they may experience in a game situation, which may require a maximum lift for some sports. So, in order to properly train athletes, we should start them off with lighter loads and progressively add weight as their overall strength increases, thereby allowing their abdominal and low back strength to keep up with the needs of the lift. That way, if they do have to lift an opponent that is at the weight limit for their lifting abilities they can do it without injury. As a former wrestler who works with a lot of clients in fighting sports, this really made the most sense to me, so I never train with a weight belt, even on my 1RM tests. If my abs and low back can't handle the load, then it isn't MY 1RM, it's the weight belts 1RM. If I'm not going to train an athlete with a weight belt, why would I train a middle aged woman with one, when I know she is going to go home and try to carry in all of her groceries at once and will risk injury because of not having the strength in the low back and abdominal muscles? Yes, if you are a powerlifter and your goal is to lift the maximum amount of weight to defeat your competitors, then a weight belt can be a great tool, but generally only during that final lift of competition. For the average person, I'd rather strengthen their core and teach them proper form for the lifts so that they can safely use them in their everyday lives. If I'm mugged on my way home from the gym, the mugger isn't going to wait on me to put on a weight belt to be able to safely pick him up and slam him to the ground, so if I'm preparing to defend myself in everyday life, then I need to train all areas of my body to be able to do those things.

A belt protects the spine by increasing the amount of pressure that can be applied to it by the muscles that support it. The belt itself reinforces the "cylinder" of the ab muscles around the spine. At the same time, the belt acts as a proprioceptive cue for a harder abdominal muscle contraction: you can actually squeeze harder with a belt on than you can without one, just as you can push harder against a loaded barbell than you can against a broomstick. This effect ultimately produces both stronger abs, due to the stronger isometric contraction facilitated by the belt, and a stronger squat, due to the heavier loads made possible by the more stable spine.

...and a mugger isn't going to allow you to get into proper lifting position or attain a proper grip, either, so based on that logic, training technical lifts would be a total waste of time, anyway.

From Starting Strength, 3rd Edition (Kindle Edition, Location 1723)

A belt protects the spine by increasing the amount of pressure that can be applied to it by the muscles that support it. The belt itself reinforces the "cylinder" of the ab muscles around the spine. At the same time, the belt acts as a proprioceptive cue for a harder abdominal muscle contraction: you can actually squeeze harder with a belt on than you can without one, just as you can push harder against a loaded barbell than you can against a broomstick. This effect ultimately produces both stronger abs, due to the stronger isometric contraction facilitated by the belt, and a stronger squat, due to the heavier loads made possible by the more stable spine.

Was thinking about the mugger comment too. Even if you're trained in self defense and knife defense odds are you're going to get cut if he has a knife. Not a good comparison.

Good Rippletoe reference. I'm not even sure what Mark's credentials are but I'd listen to him before most others with good credentials. Nothing beats experience.