Belt is a must! Why do you need an athletic belt in fitness?
The belt is becoming an integral attribute not only for professionals involved in weightlifting, bodybuilding and powerlifting, but also for amateurs who keep fit in the gym. Such popularity of the athletic belt is explained by the desire to protect the spine from injury.

Athletic belt
It is an important piece of equipment for athletes involved in weightlifting and powerlifting. The main task of the belt is to protect the spine from injury during strength exercises .

The principle of operation of the athletic belt is quite simple. It is fixed at waist level with the help of special fasteners. When performing exercises, it creates additional pressure in the abdominal area, thereby keeping the spine in an upright position.

What types of belts are there?
Belts are classified depending on the sport in which they are used. There are two main types of belts - weightlifting and powerlifting.

Weightlifting belts are divided into three types, according to the material of manufacture and the width of the middle part: classic, fabric and wide belts. Classic belts are the most popular among weightlifters and bodybuilders.

They are made of genuine leather and usually have a fastening in the form of a clasp with two pins. The middle part of the belt is made wider than the edges and is designed to support the lower back. The classic belt is convenient for training and doing exercises in a bend.

The fabric belt differs from the classic one in its lower wear resistance and lower protective properties. It is designed for work with a small weight, since the fabric cannot provide complete protection of the spine.

The wide belt justifies its name. It has a central part extended to almost 15 cm. This is its disadvantage, since the large width of the belt does not allow it to fit tightly to the lower back, and thus its protective functions are reduced.

The powerlifting belt differs from the weightlifting belt in shape and massiveness. It is a standard straight belt 10 cm wide made of thick leather. A carabiner is mainly used as a fastening.

How to wear a belt? A powerlifting belt is worn on the lower abdomen, tightly fitting the body. This allows for additional abdominal tension for performing heavy weight exercises.