The Use of Back Belts to Increase Intraabdominal Pressure as a Means of Preventing Low Back Injuries: A Survey of the Literature.
Published reports of relevant empirical research do not suggest a consistent relationship between intraabdominal pressure and the activity of the erector spinae muscles or the magnitude of the intradiscal pressure during lifting. Intraabdominal pressure varies in response to load magnitude and lift method, but there is no pattern of activity that would suggest that an increase in intraabdominal pressure decreases intradiscal pressure. Early models of back biomechanics predicted that the increase in intraabdominal pressure relieved the compressive forces on the low back by providing an extensor moment. In the newer models, intraabdominal pressure functions to stabilize the loaded spine. Studies of human subjects fail to consistently show any clear biomechanical advantage from using a back belt. Some studies suggest a slight decrease in back injury incidence when using a back belt; however, there are conflicting results regarding the severity of the injuries involved and the cost-effectiveness of back belts.