QUESTION: Workout gear: do you need a belt, lifting straps, and knee sleeves?

The use of specialized support in the form of a belt, lifting straps, and knee sleeves causes a lot of debate among beginners and experienced athletes. A detailed answer on the topic of workout gear is that you need to skillfully combine strength and cardio sessions, and full recovery, including quality sleep and a balanced diet, must be considered an integral part of the overall training plan.

A weightlifting or powerlifting belt is designed to create intra-abdominal pressure and provide rigid fixation of the lumbar spine, so it should only be put on during maximal sets in heavy compound exercises, such as barbell squats or deadlifts. Lifting straps help compensate for forearm fatigue when performing back exercises, allowing you to work the target muscles to failure.

Knee sleeves provide compression, warm up the joint apparatus, and give additional confidence in movement, which is especially important when working with moderate and heavy weights. The main rule of using any gear is that it should help you overcome plateaus and protect against injuries, rather than completely replacing the natural muscular corset of your body.