Pilot Study: The Effect of Weight Belts and Lifting Straps on Conventional Deadlift Performance

Weight belts and lifting straps are frequently worn when performing deadlifts for their ergogenic advantages, but no prior research has examined their effects. Purpose: The pilot study investigated the effects of weight belts and lifting straps on deadlift performance variables. Methods: One male subject participated (age 26 years, 78kg, 1.73M) in four separate days, performing conventional deadlifts (CDL) under varying conditions. On day one, the subject 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 subject 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 his 1-RM. Variables recorded was peak and mean vertical ground reaction forces (VGRF) with each foot standing on Bertec force plates, 1-RM, recorded the repetitions at 90% and 70% AMRAP, and rate of force displacement (RFD). Results: 1-RM was greatest in SO (193.2kg), followed by BaS (190.9kg), BO (138.6kg), and RAW (138.6kg). Repetitions at 90% AMRAP were greatest in BO (7 repetitions), followed by RAW (5 repetitions), BaS (4 repetitions), and SO (1 repetition). At 70% AMRAP, repetitions were greatest in both RAW (13 repetitions) and BO (13 repetitions), followed by BaS (11 repetitions), and SO (10 repetitions). Peak VGRF were greatest in SO (1,521.18N), followed by BaS (1,368.68N), BO (1,254.76N), and RAW (1,133.26N). Mean VGRF were greatest in SO (1,345.97N), followed by BaS (1,239.17N), BO (1,145.31N), and RAW (1,024.99N). RFD were greatest in BO (836.50N/s), followed by RAW (781.55N/s), SO (446.31N/s), and BaS (424.39N/s). Conclusion: 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.