Deadlifts, good, bad, or ugly?

[umass]

So in am effort to stir up some friendly debate I pose a question to you. In the training of both fitness related goals and athletic performance are deadlifts(conv. full range of motion) necessarilly a good thing? Obviously I'm looking for the why or why not behind your reasoning too. Some thing I've considered is the fact that if you can use other less stressful exercises to bring up your deadlift why not just use those exercises?

Also note that we aren't taking about powerlifters or stongmen because that would be like baseball without batting practice.

[Matthew]

You wrote: "if other less strenuous exercises can be used to bring up your deadlift, why not just use those?"

An individual's goals may have nothing to do with the deadlift. Besides that, if they aren't planning on deadlifting why would they care if they can improve their deadlift through other exercises?

I'm not disagreeing with your viewpoint, just your support. I think a deadlift variation of some kind is essential to any program because A)they're compound movements, and we love those; B)it does wonders for the posterior chain, which a lot of people need work on; C)certain individuals may be able to keep better form on a variation of the deadlift than they can on the conventional deadlift

[Lost Dog]

I said "yes." But that doesn't mean everyone should deadlift heavy.

Everyone should know how to deadlift safely, since you deadlift stuff all day long.

[TennesseeGentleman]

To reiterate LD, the fundamental movement is a part of an active life style.

[Lisa~]

It always depends - on the individual, on the goal, on possible limitations, on the sport, etc.

[gobbla]

I think the deadlift is a lot more useful than a bench press.

I'm not real sure what kind of support we're looking for, but everything in your training should have a purpose. If deadlifts accomplish a purpose you need (total body strength) then it's a good thing. If you're using them to accomplish something that *might* be better done with something else then it's faulty program design, not a problem with the lift.

[Waittz]

Not everyone needs to go all out and deadlift till they cant walk the next day. But the deadlift has teh most real life use than anything else.

[umass]

Originally Posted by mAtThEw

You wrote: "if other less strenuous exercises can be used to bring up your deadlift, why not just use those?"

An individual's goals may have nothing to do with the deadlift. Besides that, if they aren't planning on deadlifting why would they care if they can improve their deadlift through other exercises?

I'm not disagreeing with your viewpoint, just your support. I think a deadlift variation of some kind is essential to any program because A)they're compound movements, and we love those; B)it does wonders for the posterior chain, which a lot of people need work on; C)certain individuals may be able to keep better form on a variation of the deadlift than they can on the conventional deadlift

I guess what I was trying to say is, if the deadlift is a good measurement of total body strength, but there are easier ways to bring it up then maybe those exercises can replace the deadlift in one's programing. Also this isn't something I completely believe just a point worth considering.

I actually completely agree with your support, but C) is kind of where I'm going with this, for example I'm training a girl for athletic and physique goals and while I've ensured her conventional deadlift is on point, I usually will perscribe RDLs or dumbbell variations, especially when I won't be around to supervise.
-Ned

[chris_f]

Originally Posted by Lisa~

It always depends - on the individual, on the goal, on possible limitations, on the sport, etc.

i concur

[Patricia]

Deadlifting: It does a body good.


Seriously, deadlifts, IMO, are much better and more useful than squats; especially during a mass gaining phase. There is so much involved in terms of muscle and coordination that it's hard to find a reason to simply not deadlift. Unless you have an injury, than yeah, forego 'em. Other than that, deadlifts should be the bedrock of just about anyone's training regimen.

Even the average person would benefit from deadlifts; just about anyyone has to pick up something from the floor at one time or another. Also, if you're someone who just wants a nice, simple, straightforward training day where it's one or two exercises, deadlifts since they encompass so many of the bod's muscles, would be the way to go.

[Lisa~]

I agree with everything Patricia said about deadlifting. I still picked "it depends" for this survey because even in her post she says "unless."

I don't like "absolutely" for anything. There is always a possible exception.

[Frank.S]

I think if you can do them properly, providing you dont have an injury or something they are excellent.

Many people talk about how deadlifts are hard on the back. IMO they are great for the back. Infact my girlfriend after putting them into her program along with a bunch of other PC work has gotten rid of her back pain she had for a while.

Im actually begining to think that sumo deads are safer for most people.. Both are pretty similar though.

[Waittz]

Thinking about this question a bit more. If I could only do one exercise for the rest of my life it would be deads. I cannot see one goal someone could have that a deadlift wouldnt help them. Fat loss, strength, power, trap training, anything involved with the posterior chain, speen, verticle jump, wrestling, increase in bone density, staying fit, lower back stability/strength, ab training, and I really dont see this list stopping anytime soon. So I guess my answer is unless you medically cant. You should ABSOLUTELY be doing some variation of the pull for whatever purpose.

[Patricia]

Originally Posted by TheSteve

Thinking about this question a bit more. If I could only do one exercise for the rest of my life it would be deads. I cannot see one goal someone could have that a deadlift wouldnt help them. Fat loss, strength, power, trap training, anything involved with the posterior chain, speen, verticle jump, wrestling, increase in bone density, staying fit, lower back stability/strength, ab training, and I really dont see this list stopping anytime soon. So I guess my answer is unless you medically cant. You should ABSOLUTELY be doing some variation of the pull for whatever purpose.

Bingo.

[Patricia]

Originally Posted by Frank.S

Im actually begining to think that sumo deads are safer for most people.. Both are pretty similar though.

Actually, some people are physically built where sumos would better suit them. I pull better conventionally and I've trained with folks who pull better sumo style.

Just throwin' that out.

[Lost Dog]

Originally Posted by Patricia

Actually, some people are physically built where sumos would better suit them. I pull better conventionally and I've trained with folks who pull better sumo style.

Just throwin' that out.

I am sumo guy. It's hard for me to get down there in conventional style.

I try to work other things conventional just to get that angle on things. I do my rack pulls and rdls with a more conventional stance. I did my deadlift walks conventional, yesterday. Quite a bit lighter than sumo, but it's too hard to walk (waddle) in a sumo stance.

Funny, I couldn't figure out why my rack pulls sucked, until I realized I was standing in the "conventional" stance. I tried them sumo, and felt better again...

[Lost Dog]

Originally Posted by Lisa~

I agree with everything Patricia said about deadlifting. I still picked "it depends" for this survey because even in her post she says "unless."

I don't like "absolutely" for anything. There is always a possible exception.

I just assume that the choice of "Absolutely" means "Absolutely, unless you can't for some physical reason."

There are no absolutes, but I still say the sun WILL rise* tomorrow... It may not, however. It seems like a safe bet.



* by rise, of course I mean that the Earth will rotate in such a way to allow the Sun to appear to rise; slowly, majestically, and thankfully, above our horizon, brightening our days on this lovely planet (except in Seattle, where it's probably dreary (These folks should have an extra cup of coffee. It helps)).