Many people mistakenly believe that powerlifting is just a matter of brute force. In fact, it takes technique, mental focus, a proper diet and a support system including a dedicated coach. Even for those who aren’t powerlifting competitively, prehab routines to prevent injury and basic equipment like sbd lever belts and knee wraps are necessary. The sport has many rewards for its practitioners, including physical well being and better overall health.

The sport of powerlifting
The sport of powerlifting has been around for a long time and the International Powerlifting Federation now has over one hundred members, including the USAPL. It offers many physical and health benefits for its practitioners, from sleeping soundly at night to a decreased risk of mortality. You can reduce 7% of body fat by doing just two sessions of weight training every week. Powerlifting also helps to counteract the effects of a sedentary lifestyle.
Especially as people age, a sedentary lifestyle causes them to lose muscle tone. By the age of 80 years, people lose up to half of their muscle mass. Weight training can prevent, stop and even reverse this process of muscle loss. In fact a study conducted in 2016 found that forms of exercise like calisthenics or weight training can reduce the risk of mortality by as much as 31%.

Preventing injuries in powerlifting
As with any other sport, it’s important for powerlifters to take steps to prevent injury. Overuse of muscles and wrong technique are the primary causes of injuries in powerlifting. In fact overuse accounts for nearly two-thirds or 65% of all powerlifting injuries. On the other hand, when a proper technique is used, weight training can be used to strengthen areas like the lower back, shoulders and hips to prevent injury.
It may seem counterintuitive, but weight training can actually help to reduce back pain by as much as 80%. As with any other sport, it’s important to have the right equipment for weight training. This can include deadlift socks, sbd lever belts, knee sleeves, and wrist wraps. These can be used in competition as well as for fitness routines.

Supportive equipment for powerlifting
Powerlifters, whether they compete professionally or make strength training part of their fitness routine, need the right supportive equipment to perform their best and to avoid injuries. Supportive equipment like sbd lever belts, shirts, and knee wraps serves both purposes. Some of these are made from elastic materials which store elastic potential energy and release it as kinetic energy, improving performance dramatically.
Other kinds of equipment provide support and prevent injury. Sbd lever belts provide powerlifters lower back support for the heaviest weights. They provide stability and can be used to increase the number of reps in a fitness routine or in competition.

Powerlifting is a sport of strength and technique. It has many benefits in terms of health and physical fitness, and can even help to reduce pain in problem areas like the lower back. Using the right technique and the right equipment like sbd lever belts and wrist wraps can help prevent injuries and boost performance.