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A Weight lifting Belt Increases Squat Performance and Subjectively Perceived But Not Objectively Measured Postural
Falco Veltzke1, Fanji Qiu1, Marie Elena Bey1
1Movement Biomechanics, Institute of Sport Sciences, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; and.
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
|March 20, 2026
Summary
Weightlifting belts enhance squat performance by increasing repetitions and movement velocity. However, they do not objectively improve postural stability, despite users feeling more stable.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Biomechanics
- Strength and Conditioning
Background:
- Weightlifting belts are commonly used by athletes to enhance performance.
- The mechanisms by which belts improve performance, particularly regarding stability, are not well understood.
- Research is needed to objectively assess the effects of weightlifting belts on performance and stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if wearing a weightlifting belt objectively increases squat performance and postural stability.
- To investigate whether sex or experience with belt use influences these effects.
- To compare subjective perceptions of stability with objective measurements.
Main Methods:
- Participants (men and women, experienced and inexperienced with belts) performed squats to exhaustion with and without a belt.
- Squat performance (repetitions, movement duration) and postural sway were measured using force plates.
- Subjective perceptions of stability were also recorded.
Main Results:
- Wearing a weightlifting belt significantly increased the number of repetitions and movement velocity during squats.
- Subjective ratings of postural stability increased with belt use, but objective measures did not.
- No significant differences in objective postural stability were found between belt and no-belt conditions across sexes or experience levels.
Conclusions:
- Weightlifting belts improve squat performance metrics like repetitions and velocity.
- The perceived increase in stability from weightlifting belts is subjective and not supported by objective biomechanical data.
- Athletic performance improvements from belts are likely due to factors other than enhanced postural stability.
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