Deadlifts proper technique

[Godson]

ive been told, and ive watched youtube videos

that when doing deadlifts you have to use your legs when pulling it up , then squeeze your traps at the top, then transfer it back to your legs to sit it down. keeping your back at an angle ..

I watch every single person in the gym do deadlifts so far, and NOBODY uses their legs..im thinking to myself that is so incorrect , but is it ? after watching so many people repeatably not use your legs what so ever, just keep them straight when doing the deadlift, i started thinking maybe im incorrect ??

thought i'd post about it

[Iced696]

I find that when I do dead lift, and I do them often. I will bend my legs slightly, lowering the weight to about mid shin, as I go back up I make sure my back is straight, not hunched over and try to lift with my legs which will also incorporates the gluts. I keep my traps cranked as much as I can during the whole lift. I do see guys that keep their legs straight, bending more at the waist and rounding their backs. And generally, they don't want to hear that they're not performing the lift correctly. So I just let them be. Time will teach them a lesson when they injure their backs.

On a side note, I hated this lift for a long time but did it anyway, now it's one of my favorites.

[BgMc31]

There are many variations of deadlifts. Some of the people you are observing may be doing the different variations of the lift. Romanian deadlifts differ from a standard deadlift as does stiff-legged deads.

There is no perfect way to deadlift. Some of the biggest deadlifters don't dead with what most would consider perfect form (Andy Bolton and Bill Kazmeier come to mind), but of course those are exceptions to the rule.

[DSM4Life]

Depends on the person. I don't get my hips too low and in doing so i incorporate less of my legs and more of my back.


check out video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS3x75_YpsE

[Iced696]

There are many variations of deadlifts. Some of the people you are observing may be doing the different variations of the lift. Romanian deadlifts differ from a standard deadlift as does stiff-legged deads.

There is no perfect way to deadlift. Some of the biggest deadlifters don't dead with what most would consider perfect form (Andy Bolton and Bill Kazmeier come to mind), but of course those are exceptions to the rule.

Point well taken. I have tried many of them. I find the type I named work best for me and put the least strain on my lower back when done with good form.

[Godson]

i thought the primary muscle worked in deadlifts was the back

it seems like its actually hamstrings?

[Narkissos]

i thought the primary muscle worked in deadlifts was the back

it seems like its actually hamstrings?

The lower back is a small area... The deadlift is a multi-joint exercise.

Obviously other areas are called into play to move the large amount of weight utilized.