Pilot Study: The Effect of Weight Belts and Lifting Straps on Neuromuscular Activation During the Conventional Deadlift

Wearing weight belts and lifting straps during the deadlift is a common practice, yet there is limited scientific data supporting their ergogenic benefit. Purpose: This pilot study aimed to investigate the effect of weight belts and lifting straps on neuromuscular activation of prime mover muscles during a conventional deadlift. Methods: One male participant (age 26, 78 kg, 1.73 m) attended four separate sessions to perform conventional deadlifts (CDL) under different equipment conditions. On the first day, the participant performed the CDL without weight belt or lifting straps (RAW). The equipment conditions on the subsequent days were randomized and included deadlifts with a weight belt only (BO), lifting straps only (SO), and both weight belt and lifting straps (BaS). In each session, the participant performed deadlifts to determine his one-repetition maximum (1-RM). Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to assess muscle activation during each lift, with electrodes placed on the gluteus maximus, erector spinae, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, and brachioradialis. EMG data were normalized to maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC). Results: Preliminary findings indicated that, compared to RAW, the BO, SO, and BaS condition resulted in increased muscle activation of the gluteus maximus and the vastus lateralis. In contrast, activation of the biceps femoris, erector spinae, and brachioradialis decreased in the BO, SO, and BaS conditions when compared to RAW condition. Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that while weight belts and lifting straps may increase muscle activation in certain prime mover muscles like the gluteus maximus and vastus lateralis, they may concurrently decrease activation in others, such as the biceps femoris, erector spinae, and brachioradialis. Further research with a larger sample size is necessary to validate these results.