Trap bar deads vs conventional bar deads

[carverelli]

I'm 47 and have hurt my back several times over the years trying to do conventional deadlifts. I can rep over 3 plates squatting to parallel, but deathly afraid to over - plate in a conventional deadlifts from the ground.
Last night I tried out a "trap bar" for deadlifts for shrugs and did several sets of deadlifts with 235 lbs of plate weight plus the bar. It felt good and seemed like I could do more.

If the weight used was the same, what different muscles are used in the trap bar. version vs the conventional deadlift. Obviously, there is less low back recruitment, but what else changes?

Just looking to add back thickness and preserve my lower back health

 

[Mrrippedzilla]

Conventional deads are more posterior chain dominant, while traps are more upright so less back stimulus more quads/lower body.
Grip can be an issue for trap deads but overall its a good substitute for guys who cannot do conventional deads for whatever reason.

If your looking for back thickness then deads in general are a poor choice since they only work your upper/mid back in an isometric fashion.
I would look towards the horizontal & vertical pull exercises for back development - all types of rows, pullups, pulldowns, etc.

 

[carverelli]

Thanks ripp, I notice the back thickness of guys that deadlift regularly and its unmistakeable.
I also do the other exercises u mentioned. I mix up 8-10 different movements never keeping the same workout in consecutive weeks. But I always do an overhead pull down or pull-ups, 2 different rows and dumbbell pullovers.

I'm working up to a 4 plate squat, so I'm just a little worried about the leg/ hip recruitment of the trapbar deads. Gonna try spacing those 2 workouts 3-4 days apart, so time will tell if it will work for me

 

[carverelli]

Thanks ripp, I notice the back thickness of guys that deadlift regularly and its unmistakeable.
I also do the other exercises u mentioned. I mix up 8-10 different movements never keeping the same workout in consecutive weeks. But I always do an overhead pull down or pull-ups, 2 different rows and dumbbell pullovers.

I'm working up to a 4 plate squat, so I'm just a little worried about the leg/ hip recruitment of the trapbar deads. Gonna try spacing those 2 workouts 3-4 days apart, so time will tell if it will work for me

 

[carverelli]

Grip can be an issue for trap deads

I always use straps in any heavy back work. My forearms are huge already plus allows me to concentrate on pulling with my back instead of my hands/arms

 

[carverelli]

Grip can be an issue for trap deads

I always use straps in any heavy back work. My forearms are huge already plus allows me to concentrate on pulling with my back instead of my hands/arms