Why should you use a powerlifting or bodybuilding belt for training?

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Why should you use a powerlifting or bodybuilding
belt for training?
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(No Transcript)
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• For those looking to take their workout to the
  next level, there are a range of different
  accessories that allow you to extract more out of
  your session. And with the market growing year on
  year, finding the right option for your needs is
  half the challenge.
• Within these collections, powerlifting and
  bodybuilding belts (commonly called weightlifting
  belts) have become crowd-favourites. 

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• Offering supportive benefits across the board,
  theres plenty to love about these accessories.
  But do they work and what are the advantages you
  can expect to gain from using them?
• In this post, we explore these accessories to
  give you a run-through on how they can aid your
  workouts and power up those personal bests.

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Powerlifting vs. bodybuilding belts whats the
difference?

• At first glance, these belts look very similar.
  But there are actually a few key differences.
• For starters, a powerlifting belt is the same
  width all the way along, whereas a bodybuilding
  belt is typically wider at the back and narrower
  at the front.
• Essentially, powerlifting versions are usually
  thicker and heavier, while general bodybuilding
  of weightlifting designs are lighter and
  typically padded at the back.

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• Depending on your focus, the powerlifting belt
  may be the ideal choice for giving more back
  support, allowing you to press your abdominal
  wall into the belt for further intra-abdominal
  pressure. In comparison, contoured weightlifting
  belts wont offer the same level of support but
  tend to deliver a wider range of movement and be
  a little more comfortable instead.  If youre not
  a powerlifter, something like the Spartan Olympic
  Belt below offers an all-round general support to
  your compound and accessory movements.

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Can they do more harm than good?

• Like all must-have gym gear for bodybuilding,
  these belts can mask core weaknesses if not used
  correctly. Therefore, before getting started with
  a new accessory like this, it is important to
  understand how they affect your body and support
  your overall goals.
• For example, its advised that these belts are
  only worn by those looking to incorporate heavier
  lifts into their sessions.

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Core activation

• While some will argue that using these belts
  weakens your core, there are other studies that
  suggest they may actually strengthen it. The
  debate will always continue and the known impact
  on this area of your body is still not 100
  clear. Because of this, its especially important
  to keep an eye on how much you're relying on the
  accessory during your workouts.

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• In the short term, however, wearing a
  weightlifting belt can increase the EMG
  activity in the rectus abdominis, with increased
  muscle activation in the obliques and the lats as
  well.