eli5: How does a weightlifting belt prevent injuries?
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Try flexing your bicep as hard as you can. Then try flexing your bicep by curling up a weight. You’ll note that the bicep contracts harder when it’s working “against” the weight. This is the basic principle behind lifting belts.
Regardless of whether a belt is involved, most intermediate to advanced lifters take a belly breath then brace their gut and back prior to a heavy lift. The lift belt helps most people brace harder as it gives them something to press their gut and back muscles against.
A lift belt is not a substitute for good technique. It does not support your back and certainly does not prevent injury. But, if it helps you maintain a good back position during a lift, then it’s a mighty fine piece of equipment to have.
Also, in response to top comment, there is no “shearing stress” placed on your spine during squats and deadlifts. At best, the weight is trying to bend your spine out of position. That is not “shear.” This is just semantics but goddamn I wish that term were never introduced to the weightlifting lexicon. If shear were an issue then you’d hear/read stories about people whose spines slide/shear in half during maximal squat and deadlift attempts. But nothing like that ever happens. Because there is no “shear” going on.
The vast majority of spinal load during squats and deadlifts is axial, meaning it compresses the spine. Improper management of axial load is still a bad thing (I’ve heard that herniated disks and degenerative disk disease aren’t very pleasant), but, regardless, shear it ain’t.
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