Are deadlifts really worth doing?

[volatile]

Im probarbly going to get flamed here, but I have a really dodgy lower back, and I really dont see how a deadlift can really be such a great mass builder, all I see it as is the daddy of building core strength.

I get dodgy shooting pains down my back for no reason sometimes, and constantly have lowerback pain, when doing deadlifts in the past this has just made it worse so I really think I should leave these out and focus on squats as my core builder (yes I know what your thinking, squats also hammer your lowerback but not as much as deads of course but my lowerback seems to be fine with the squats its just the deads it doesnt seem to like)

The only thing I see a deadlift doing is giving you good core/hamstring/grip/forearm strength with a bit of trap growth (I remmeber hearing people say if you want big biceps do heavy deads but I just dont see how they would cause your biceps to grow, its not as if your doing a curling movment or anything)

Anyway I look forward to getting flamed and hearing your views on the muscle building propertys of deadlifts, thanks for listening

 

[Behemoth]

Well what exactly is wrong with your back? Have you tried strengthening it with exercises like hypers and stuff like that? I wouldn't leave deads out. Are you sure your form is good? Which type of deadlift were you doing, conventional, SLDL, etc?

 

[BADKITTY]

Im probarbly going to get flamed here, but I have a really dodgy lower back, and I really dont see how a deadlift can really be such a great mass builder, all I see it as is the daddy of building core strength.

I get dodgy shooting pains down my back for no reason sometimes, and constantly have lowerback pain, when doing deadlifts in the past this has just made it worse so I really think I should leave these out and focus on squats as my core builder (yes I know what your thinking, squats also hammer your lowerback but not as much as deads of course but my lowerback seems to be fine with the squats its just the deads it doesnt seem to like)

The only thing I see a deadlift doing is giving you good core/hamstring/grip/forearm strength with a bit of trap growth (I remmeber hearing people say if you want big biceps do heavy deads but I just dont see how they would cause your biceps to grow, its not as if your doing a curling movment or anything)

Anyway I look forward to getting flamed and hearing your views on the muscle building propertys of deadlifts, thanks for listening

no flaming allowed here, so you're safe however, i do hold the strong opinion that deadlifts are a GREAT mass builder as well as core strengthener. i personally would like to see your form on deadlifts; how do you do them? traditional, RDL, SDL, or what? also, what is your rep range? i'd have to see a vid of you doing them to accurately critique, but my first guess is that you are not getting your hips into the motion. straightening your legs too soon causes all the stress to compound in your lower back, instead of the glutes and hams. just a thought, but like i said i'd have to see your form to be sure...
~MINX

 

[BADKITTY]

damn behemoth you beat me to it i was too slow with my response...
~MINX

 

[volatile]

LOL, thanks for keeping me safe, I do normal deadlifts, rep range ive tryed mainly the hypertrophy approach at first, 8-12, then I started doing 1-3 rep range for strength, both seemed to mess up my back.

Im pretty sure I was using correct form, I wasnt straightening my legs too soon I was straighting my legs just before my back, looking up during the movement, and also occasionally checking in the mirror to my side to make sure my back wasnt bent but straight/arched.

Maybe I should build up slowly with hypers and then try the deads again, maybe when I try the deads I should play around with my form using a light weight until I get the most natural/comfortable form.

Just a quick question, would 3 sets of deads suffice?

 

[jcp2]

What kind of weight do you use, if you do not have a diagnosed problem with your lower back, it is probably just very very weak. This is true with most trainers. Your low back does not get strong by accident.

 

[volatile]

Well tbh I think ive been doing a weight thats too heavy for me, I feel too much of a pussy to start on something like 70-80kg, I was hitting up 90-100kg maybe that was my problem,

ok f*ck my ego, im going to leave it at the door, im going to start deads again but at a low weight (70-80kg) for highish reps 8-12, for 3 sets, what do you think, sounds like enough work for my lower back? I will do this after squats as well, sound like a good idea?

 

[AngryMuscles]

I love doing deads...never gone a back workout without them and the thing I'm wondering is...I've been doing proper form deads and I could only see my low back thickening and not much on the upper portion. yeah, I do chins and bents and other back work outs...genetics??

 

[solcraft]

vol-i'm a firm believer in the help that deads do for lower back. in 2002 i was in a pretty bad car accident. my lower back recieving the brunt of the trauma. i had constant pain for months. after about 3 months i started back to the gym. i avoided all lower back exercises, until a strength coach freind of mine suggested that my lower back problems could be helped by doing deads and hypers etc. i was very sceptical at first because i had just started to feel better in the lower parts of the back. to make a long story short(er), i started doing deads again ONLY (not including any other exercise that day to begin with). i started with the bar and 25lb plates. within the frst week it felt like i had broken through the pain and my back has been doing good ever since. now i'm pulling close to 500lbs as my max, with 405lbs as my working range. dont get me wrong there have been some pretty sore moments, but the benifits far outweigh the negatives. just start low and slow. proper form, and the rest will happen. dont let your ego get the better of you. if you feel you should start at 70-80 kg, start at 60-70. you can only go up. good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Fender]

Sol...good story...keep it up.

 

[huskyguy]

Deadlifts are one of the best exercises, start with light weight and work up to heavier weight--core strength is necessary to accomplish other lifts and tasks. Learn to love them and they will love you back.

 

[blackbeard]

actually they are completely useless



















hahahahahahahaha j/k
thinkt he point had been made already
do WHAT you can WHEN you can...then try to step it up after your comfortable with the lift

 

[B.Reel]

dont dismiss the fact that your back might actually be fucked up and deads might actually be doing more harm than good. i have had back probz in the past and still do deads, but very carefully and i really listen to my body. the last thing you want is to pop a disk and then kiss what ever physique you have goodbye. not to mention the ability to walk.

are deads a great excercise, absolutely! are they a dangerous excercise, they absolutely can be! if it hurts than something is wrong. your body wont lie to you bro, so take care of it

 

[jcp2]

dont dismiss the fact that your back might actually be fucked up and deads might actually be doing more harm than good. i have had back probz in the past and still do deads, but very carefully and i really listen to my body. the last thing you want is to pop a disk and then kiss what ever physique you have goodbye. not to mention the ability to walk.

are deads a great excercise, absolutely! are they a dangerous excercise, they absolutely can be! if it hurts than something is wrong. your body wont lie to you bro, so take care of it

I am not a doctor, but it doesn't sound like he has a back problem. Not to mention nothing helps a back problem more than a strong back. Not being able to deadlift 225 for sets is telling me his lower back is week as shit. My lower back fuckign killed me when i started pulling. Not much you can do about that. If he really thinks he has back problems go to the doc. Most peolpe that say they have back problems have some mysterious undiagnosable problem, usually stemming from a fucking weak ass back.

 

[pretty ricky]

hey i blew a couple disks awhile ago and couldn't do em for a good while.when i healed up good i stated pulling light started to do lots of hamstring stretchs lots of low back stuff like hypers,sldl,and con deads.light then added the weight just like you would want to.all the time getting my back stronger.so i would tend to agree with jcp you probably weak in that area.hey my doc told me to do deadlifts so you might want to lessen the weight up and do em right.i'm not a doc but i have expirence with a lower back injury.

 

[fullypaully]

who cares if you start at a low weight its better to know that you are doing the exercise properly instead of hurting your self.

 

[Mudge]

A friend of mine has a bulged and dehydrated disc that kept him from deadlifting for a few years, he is finally going to get it fixed. He is younger than me, 28 years old. So yes it is possible you have a true back problem.

 

[pullinbig]

no flaming allowed here, so you're safe however, i do hold the strong opinion that deadlifts are a GREAT mass builder as well as core strengthener. i personally would like to see your form on deadlifts; how do you do them? traditional, RDL, SDL, or what? also, what is your rep range? i'd have to see a vid of you doing them to accurately critique, but my first guess is that you are not getting your hips into the motion. straightening your legs too soon causes all the stress to compound in your lower back, instead of the glutes and hams. just a thought, but like i said i'd have to see your form to be sure...
~MINX

minx has great form. on deads too.

 

[pretty ricky]

well paully when you get to heavy usually your form goes.so by lowering the weight that will allow him to keep his form strict.which inturn should allow him to do the excercise the right way and pain free.

 

[fullypaully]

sounds good to me