Hernia question

[bg1968]

I know in your previous threads you said you were not answereing any more hernia questions, but this is not about the hernia directly, I know I have one, I have had it for about 5 or more years. I regularly pull 500+ for reps on DL and 400+ for reps on back squat without any discomfort, this is without belt or other supportive gear. But I would like to add to these lifts, maybe get my DL to 600+ and squat to 500+.

My question is this, you suggest wearing a belt, should It be worn lower than usual? Also I was thinking of buying some of the Inzer squat briefs or power pants, or similar product, do you think those would provide a little extra support?

I will eventually get this fixed, but I am a doctorphobe and avoid them at all costs so I will probably wait until a catastrophic failure of my yam sack to have the needed work.

Thanks,

[Mark Rippetoe]

Just wear the belt in the normal way, because 1.) you can't wear it otherwise effectively, and 2.) it won't work to support your back any other way. The belt is worn primarily for back support, and braces your hernia only tangentially. An inguinal hernia is a flaw in the abdominal floor, and the belt will not really take any pressure off of that. The reason you can train the deadlift with a hernia is because the load is static -- it usually takes a dynamic load to squirt the thing. I'd use the belt to decrease the likelihood of a wiggle during the pull that might get turned into a dynamic situation.