Why do weightlifters wear thick belts around their waist?

rxbigdawg

"A weightlifting belt has two main purposes. It reduces stress on the lower back while the person is lifting in an upright position and prevents back hyperextension during overhead lifts. A belt reduces low back stress by compressing the contents of the abdominal cavity. This increases the intra-abdominal pressure (IAP), providing more support in front of the bones of the lower back. This allows the spinal erector muscles, which would normally provide this support of the lower back, to produce less force during the lift." http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/strengthening/a/aa060201a.htm Apr 13 08, 11:10 AM