Do you use a belt and wraps when you squat?

[big perm]

I was reading an article on simplyshredded and it stated that your strength increases 10-15% when using a belt and knee wraps for squats. I've never used either for no reason other than I never really thought about it, but if it's this beneficial then I'm heading out to get both today lol.

 

[Zyglamail]

If external accessories are allowing you to lift more, then its not really a strength increase, sure your lifting more but your not really stronger. If you need wraps or a belt for injuries etc and they allow you to lift im all for it but I think there is something to be said for natural, unassisted strength.

 

[stevesmi]

absolutely NOT.

i am 100% against the use of gloves, wraps, straps, belts, and all that other crap. you are only hurting yourself in the long run.

i think a lot of people view powerlifting as just a bunch of big bellied gorilla's who walk into the gym with belly fat hanging over their belts and then wrapping their joints up like King Tut. it doesn't have to be like that. if you lift with your muscles and NOT your tendons/ligaments you should never have to wrap anything up. also joint problems can be traced to 2 things. 1. lack of nutrition proper. 2. overtraining/not allowing inflammation to heal the joint

so if you see someone using wraps it means they abused their bodies to begin with. if they remove the wraps and try to lift they would probably struggle mightily which means they are actually weakening themselves as ziggie said, NOT strengthening weird huh?

gloves don't even get me started. strengthening your grip with gloves is not improving your grip, its making your forearms, wrists and hands WEAKER. people who wear gloves in the gym i laugh at for this reason. you are only hurting yourself once again

 

[hardrock]

Haven't used a belt or gloves in years. Gave all that shit up. I use straps only on my heaviest back set, and have never used wraps.

Since my back injury 3 yes ago, I have thought about using a belt, but just can't bring myself to do it.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using EliteFitness

 

[big perm]

Great points guys....I'll stick to not using them, thanks.

 

[Wardo]

If your injured or you have bad joints when should you stop using them? I can squat 500 for reps did that with out wraps shit almost brought me to tears. My nutrition is on point taking fish oil and cissus for joints, keep in mind I have spent 16 years as a Marine and one year in the Corps adds two to your body. Never thought that if I still was using them it would be detrimental to training. Only use them when I squat heavy, any help or advice is appreciated.

 

[Evan Tipps]

Belts and straps alllll day.

 

[MaxxReps]

I agree with not using straps or belts and have never used them but one thing I've found that on cycle my skin is a lot oilier and have a hard time hanging onto the bar for shrugs and deadlifts past about 3 plates. I've never really lifted that heavy but prior to using gear had no problem hanging onto the bar up to my max, which was only 365. Somewhat related, I found that using a hook grip for deadlifting was hard to get used to at first but really helped with the grip - if you could deal with the calluses halfway up your thumb ;-)

 

[bonacris]

I find when I use a belt I take my form for granted. Plus I never do 1 rep maxes so I dont feel the need to.. I will use straps and wrist wraps for my heavy sets for back chest and shoulders

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[stevesmi]

If your injured or you have bad joints when should you stop using them? I can squat 500 for reps did that with out wraps shit almost brought me to tears. My nutrition is on point taking fish oil and cissus for joints, keep in mind I have spent 16 years as a Marine and one year in the Corps adds two to your body. Never thought that if I still was using them it would be detrimental to training. Only use them when I squat heavy, any help or advice is appreciated.

you overtrained and wrecked your body as a marine.. there is a fail-safe line that once is crossed then your problems become chronic and once that happens you are probably fucked for life and will have to deal with it forever as best you can.

the solution is don't fuck ur body up to begin with.. i've seen on fitness sites guys say "easier said than done" that is generally a cop out where ego gets in the way of common sense. if you feel pain, then you either should lay off or go into a de-load phase to allow your body to recover.. if you fail to do this then you will end up with chronic and permanent damage which sounds like you have. of course if you are an elisted marine you can't exactly go up to your officer and tell them "sir can I take a week off to rest my joints?" he/she will probably tear your ears off for that. so you were in a unique situation. but everyone else reading this LEAVE YOUR EGO out of your training! however you did say you do 500 squats for reps, how bout dropping it down to 3 plates instead and doing proper form without feeling pain. if it hurts DON'T DO IT, i'm not sure what other advice I can give you. I assure you that you can get just as good a workout with 3 plates with proper form and pain free.

 

[stevesmi]

I agree with not using straps or belts and have never used them but one thing I've found that on cycle my skin is a lot oilier and have a hard time hanging onto the bar for shrugs and deadlifts past about 3 plates. I've never really lifted that heavy but prior to using gear had no problem hanging onto the bar up to my max, which was only 365. Somewhat related, I found that using a hook grip for deadlifting was hard to get used to at first but really helped with the grip - if you could deal with the calluses halfway up your thumb ;-)

you will definately improve your grip over time just work on it. i used to have trouble with my grip as well but i continued to work on it.. keep in mind I have VERY SMALL hands, medittarean genetics so gripping 3 plate deadlifts i tend to slip out, but i have worked on it the past couple years and its getting better and better.. and i find myself outlifting dudes who weigh 50+ pounds more than me for reps

 

[Zyglamail]

If your injured or you have bad joints when should you stop using them? I can squat 500 for reps did that with out wraps shit almost brought me to tears. My nutrition is on point taking fish oil and cissus for joints, keep in mind I have spent 16 years as a Marine and one year in the Corps adds two to your body. Never thought that if I still was using them it would be detrimental to training. Only use them when I squat heavy, any help or advice is appreciated.

Sounds like you have joint laxity and the wraps keep things inline. Without the wraps keeping the joint inline while lifting the slop allows the joint to move out of place and rub where it shouldnt and add additional stress on already weakened tendons and ligaments.

If you chronically keep pushing the joint past where it can handle unaided (ie with wraps) you are going to constantly cause damage and not make any healing progress.

If I were you I would ditch the wraps and let pain be the guide as to how much weight to use. In addition add in 6g (or more) ascorbic acid, 5-6g lysine and 1-3g proline to your list of supplements, spread intake throughout the day. Those are key elements in collagen which is whats needed to repair the damages joints.

 

[stevesmi]

Sounds like you have joint laxity and the wraps keep things inline. Without the wraps keeping the joint inline while lifting the slop allows the joint to move out of place and rub where it shouldnt and add additional stress on already weakened tendons and ligaments.

If you chronically keep pushing the joint past where it can handle unaided (ie with wraps) you are going to constantly cause damage and not make any healing progress.

If I were you I would ditch the wraps and let pain be the guide as to how much weight to use. In addition add in 6g (or more) ascorbic acid, 5-6g lysine and 1-3g proline to your list of supplements, spread intake throughout the day. Those are key elements in collagen which is whats needed to repair the damages joints.

i bolded the best response in this thread. 1 sentence sums up what I've been preaching for years to people on here. improving your lifts doesn't mean you are lifting correctly and doing your body any favors. again we go back to EGO and cop out thinking by guys. and these are the same guys who end up on PK's at 35 and wonder why. a guy i workout with needs PK's and sleep meds before bed or he can't sleep from being in so much pain. what the fuck kind of life is that?

if you are a NFL athlete making millions then i guess its worth it? atleast your family is taken care of for life even if you suffer. but for those of you who don't even make a living in this then what the fuck are you doing to yourselves?

 

[Wardo]

Most of my joint problems aren't by choice....the NFL player makes millions....I didn't but spent years fast roping from helos humping miles under load and eating crappy food. I appreciate all advice that was given to me, thank you all for your time and help!