Does the bottom of the deadlift feel like a leg press to you guys?

[spesmilitis]

I say this about ever other month but . . .it feels like I just mastered deadlift form.

Anyways, does the bottom of the deadlift feel like a leg press to you guys? I can't use my lower back, and there not much the glutes can do at the bottom, so the only thing I can do is pump my quads and drive my legs into the ground.

I think I would probably say the same thing for the squat if my squat numbers were higher.

 

[Mr.Positive]

I hear ya..deadlifts are my new focus right now. I'm trying to figure out if I shoud do deadlifts on a leg day, or a back day.

Don't use your back to "cheat". Drive your feet through the floor and use your quads...

I'm learning deadlifts really start to kick in once the bar raises past your knees..and you work your back more.

 

[spesmilitis]

read articles on stronglifts.com for really good info on deadlift technique.

lowerback should be never sore (ideally anyways). Squeeze your glutes to thrust hips to the bar.

 

[mrRuckus]

Why shouldn't your lower back be sore? There's a difference between that muscle being sore and "my lower back hurts from bad form." To me that's just like saying your chest shouldn't be sore after dips.

Your glutes are doing a ton of work at the bottom. You might not have to consciously think about them then but they're working.+

Remember your knees shouldn't be locking when the bar reaches your knees. It's not a squat and then a pull back (like a squat followed by a straight leg deadlift). It's one smooth motion. Your hips and knees should lockout at the same time.

 

[mrRuckus]

This is excellent

http://www.crossfit.com/journal/library/51-2006_AnalysisofDeadlift.pdf

 

[spesmilitis]

Why shouldn't your lower back be sore? There's a difference between that muscle being sore and "my lower back hurts from bad form." To me that's just like saying your chest shouldn't be sore after dips.

I'm don't know what the physical reason it, but ideally its not susposed to be sore. Out of my last 3 deadlift workouts, only one make my lower back sore. Ask Stronglifts, he can answer this question better than I can. He talks about it in these threads:

http://www.sosuave.net/forum/showthread.php?t=128578

http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?t=635238

 

[mrRuckus]

I'm don't know what the physical reason it, but ideally its not susposed to be sore. Out of my last 3 deadlift workouts, only one make my lower back sore. Ask Stronglifts, he can answer this question better than I can. He talks about it in these threads:

That's just ridiculous. Go hold buckets of water out to your sides and tell me that you don't feel it even if you're just doing a static hold. It's tremendously hard work to hold stiff against the much weight. There's no reason why it wouldn't induce soreness in a lot of people.

There's still not adequate explanation for why soreness happens in the first place not to mention the wide range of individualness in what/how much/when someone gets sore.

You're just parroting what one guy said. Soreness from taxing a muscle and pain from bad form are different.

 

[Master Bates]

Why shouldn't your lower back be sore? There's a difference between that muscle being sore and "my lower back hurts from bad form." To me that's just like saying your chest shouldn't be sore after dips.

Your glutes are doing a ton of work at the bottom. You might not have to consciously think about them then but they're working.+

Remember your knees shouldn't be locking when the bar reaches your knees. It's not a squat and then a pull back (like a squat followed by a straight leg deadlift). It's one smooth motion. Your hips and knees should lockout at the same time.

Are you sure your lower back shouldn't be sore? It's just one area I don't want to f*ck up. I'm trying deadlifts and I'm pretty sure I'm using the proper form (although I catch myself doing it wrong here and there), and I can definitely feel it in my lower back.

 

[Drum&Bass]

Deadlifts are a back exercise NOT a leg exercise. If done correctly your lower back and the area around your shoulder blades should be getting punished.

 

[Master Bates]

I just can't tell if I'm feeling the soreness in my lower back muscles or my spine. :-/

 

[spesmilitis]

Deadlifts are a back exercise NOT a leg exercise. If done correctly your lower back and the area around your shoulder blades should be getting punished.

Refer to these threads

http://www.sosuave.net/forum/showthread.php?t=128578
http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?t=635238

I feel the soreness on most days only in my glutes and upper/middle back. Rarely in my lowerback.

 

[mrRuckus]

Deadlifts are a back exercise NOT a leg exercise

Considering my quads, hamstrings, and glutes are on fire from yesterday's deadlifts i'd have to say they disagree with you.

 

[stronglifts]

I'm don't know what the physical reason it, but ideally its not susposed to be sore. Out of my last 3 deadlift workouts, only one make my lower back sore. Ask Stronglifts, he can answer this question better than I can. He talks about it in these threads:

http://www.sosuave.net/forum/showthread.php?t=128578

http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?t=635238

My back (especially upperback/traps) do get sore from heavy deadlifts. But lower back feels definitely better than it used years ago when I was pulling with my back.

Anyway, don't pay too much attention to it. As long as you're squeezing the glutes/keep the shoulders back/bar close to you/push from the heels/etc you'll be ok.

 

[stronglifts]

Deadlifts are a back exercise NOT a leg exercise. If done correctly your lower back and the area around your shoulder blades should be getting punished.

Deadlifts are a hip extension exercise. Knee extend, hip extend, lower back extend simultanously.

It's not a back exercise. For the simple reason that the back does nothing during the whole lift except staying rigid against the load. So it's an isometric for your back. Anyone knows isometrics are great for strenght, that's why deadlifts build strong backs.

But they are not a pull back or back exercise. Extend knee from floor to knee height. extend hips from knee to lockout. Back stays neutral against the weight, that builds the back.

 

[mrRuckus]

It's not a back exercise. For the simple reason that the back does nothing during the whole lift except staying rigid against the load. So it's an isometric for your back. Anyone knows isometrics are great for strenght, that's why deadlifts build strong backs.

That's really quibbling with semantics. I don't see where the type of contraction has anything to do with whether it's a back exercise or not but there's zero point in even having the discussion since it's just semantics.

 

[stronglifts]

That's really quibbling with semantics. I don't see where the type of contraction has anything to do with whether it's a back exercise or not but there's zero point in even having the discussion since it's just semantics.

It's no more semantics when someone deadlifts by pulling back, rather than bringing his hip forward. And when I look at the quality of Drum&Bass other posts, my guess he's pulling back.

I don't think I'll change his mind, but hopefully I can open other people's eyes about how a deadlift should be done in safely. Take this words from someone who had beginning hernia symptoms from deadlifting "using his back" rather than the hips.

 

[Drum&Bass]

It's not a back exercise. For the simple reason that the back does nothing during the whole lift except staying rigid against the load. So it's an isometric for your back.

your back erm correction..spine should be neutral for EVERY exercise you ever do. it is a back exercise because your using your back muscles to secure your spine in correct posture..

And when I look at the quality of Drum&Bass other posts, my guess he's pulling back.

it all works in unity, while your hips move forward your back moves backward..there is stress on the back as your leverage changes. There is also stress on the back because your core is leaned forward at a mechanical disadvantage, your back muscles are heavily emphasized for support.
Thats why the DEAD LIFT IS CONSIDERED A GREAT BACK EXERCISE !!! not hip not leg or anything else...even though they all play factors in the movement..the focus and stress is placed on the back !

Considering my quads, hamstrings, and glutes are on fire from yesterday's deadlifts i'd have to say they disagree with you.

sorry that you have such weak legs..but we all agree that hamstrings, glutes and quads are engaged, there is INCREDIBLE STRESS on your lower back while you lift with your legs in the earlier stages through lock out..if you lower the weight and do higher reps instead of trying to be like a powerlifter prepping for a meet, your legs will feel much better and your back will get stronger.

 

[stronglifts]

your back erm correction..spine should be neutral for EVERY exercise you ever do. it is a back exercise because your using your back muscles to secure your spine in correct posture..

it all works in unity, while your hips move forward your back moves backward..there is stress on the back as your leverage changes.

Ok.

sorry that you have such weak legs..but we all agree that hamstrings, glutes and quads are engaged, but there is INCREDIBLE STRESS on your lower back while you lift with your legs..if you lower the weight and do higher reps instead of trying to be like a powerlifter prepping for a meet, your legs will feel much better and your back will get stronger.

High reps build strength?

 

[Drum&Bass]

High reps build strength?

absolutely !! its called periodization and you don't stick with high reps forever.

 

[mrRuckus]

It's no more semantics when someone deadlifts by pulling back, rather than bringing his hip forward. And when I look at the quality of Drum&Bass other posts, my guess he's pulling back.

I don't think I'll change his mind, but hopefully I can open other people's eyes about how a deadlift should be done in safely. Take this words from someone who had beginning hernia symptoms from deadlifting "using his back" rather than the hips.

Naw, my only quibble is you saying it's not a back exercise. To me if you're getting great benefit to your back then it's a back exercise. Whether it's your back doing the actual lifting or not doesn't matter to me in terms of calling it a back exercise. From your viewpoint it appears you only want to call an exercise an X exercise if it's doing a type of contraction that you are self-defining.

I don't have any problem at all with you saying use your glutes and hips as the movers and if calling not a back exercise helps people get that through their head then i'll live with it being a little white lie that benefits coaching it.