Pilot Study: The Effect Of Weight Belts And Lifting Straps On Conventional Deadlift Performance.

PURPOSE: Weight belts and lifting straps are frequently worn when performing deadlifts for their ergogenic advantages, but no prior research has examined their effects. The pilot study investigated the effects of weight belts and lifting straps on deadlift performance variables. METHODS: Four male subjects participated (Age: 24 ± 2.9 years, Weight: 78.1 ± 3.6 kg, Height: 171.8 ± 5.5 cm) in four separate days, performing conventional deadlifts (CDL) under varying conditions. On day one, the subjects performed the CDL without weight belts and lifting straps (RAW). The remaining sessions were randomized between using a weight belt only (BO), lifting straps only (SO), or both weight belt and lifting straps (BaS). Each day, the subjects worked up to a one-repetition maximum (1-RM), followed by a set of as many repetitions as possible (AMRAP) at 90% and then 70% of their 1-RM. Variables recorded were peak and mean vertical ground reaction forces (VGRF) with each foot standing on Bertec force plates, 1-RM, volume load (VL) of each AMRAP set calculated by weight lifted (kg) multiplied by repetitions, and rate of force displacement (RFD). RESULTS: 1-RM was greatest in SO (155.1 ± 25.3 kg), followed by BaS (149.4 ± 29.9 kg), BO (136.9 ± 8.2 kg), and RAW (128.9 ± 9.9 kg). VL at 90% AMRAP were greatest in BaS (VL = 673.5 ± 217.7 kg), followed by RAW (VL = 591.2 ± 288.3 kg), BO (VL = 397.8 ± 359.8 kg), and SO (VL = 363.6 ± 174.1 kg). At 70% AMRAP, VL was greatest in BaS (VL = 1214.4 ± 430.1 kg), then RAW (VL = 1210.5 ± 360.7 kg), followed by SO (VL = 1161.4 ± 381.4 kg), and BO (VL = 697.6 ± 397.4 kg). Peak VGRF were greatest in SO (1,428.8 ± 131.9 N), followed by BaS (1,294 ± 88.7 N), BO (1,215.7 ± 58.1 N), and RAW (1,166.8 ± 33.6 N). Mean VGRF were greatest in SO (1,230.6 ± 99.1 N), followed by BaS (1,166.4 ± 73.2 N), BO (1,080.5 ± 123.8 N), and RAW (1,014.81 ± 26.6 N). RFD were greatest in BO (3,233.8 ± 3,580.6 N/s), followed by BaS (2,314.5 ± 2,537 N/s), RAW (1,761.8 ± 1,144.7 N/s), and SO (1,364.7 ± 1,787 N/s). CONCLUSIONS: These pilot data indicate that weight belts and lifting straps improved 1-RM, AMRAP, VGRF, and RFD performance, but further studies with larger, more diverse samples are needed to validate these findings.