Should I avoid deadlifting?

[beq1991]

I have issues with my back rounding when I deadlift. I decided to record myself and even though the weight wasn't high (250 lb) because I had just come off a two month layoff with no lifting and it felt very easy to get that weight off the ground, I noticed slight rounding in my back. I lowered the weight down to 225 lb and made sure I kept my neck in the proper position, and my back stayed perfectly straight. The problem is I don't want to have to record myself all the time to make sure I'm not rounding my back and I'm concerned I'll lose my form if I increase weight significantly. I am considering ditching the deadlift so I don't injure myself.

[ElrondHubbard]

No.



Keep practicing at a manageable weight with good form. Once good form is a habit, increase the weight or rep number very gradually. Progressive overload on the deadlift is no different than any other exercise.

[LactoseTolerant]

I'm concerned I'll lose my form if I increase weight significantly.

Which is the concern of every lifter with every lift.

[beq1991]

Which is the concern of every lifter with every lift.

True, but I would argue you're much more likely to suffer a serious injury from bad form while deadlifting than performing any other lift.

[ElrondHubbard]

True, but I would argue you're much more likely to suffer a serious injury from bad form while deadlifting than performing any other lift.

I don't think there's any evidence for that.

[LactoseTolerant]

True, but I would argue you're much more likely to suffer a serious injury from bad form while deadlifting than performing any other lift.

Most of my injuries were from benching, a few from squatting. I had a back cramp once from deadlifting.

[DCSpartan]

True, but I would argue you're much more likely to suffer a serious injury from bad form while deadlifting than performing any other lift.

You would be wrong.

If you cant pick up something from the ground without injuring yourself, you have issues.

[beq1991]

You would be wrong.

If you cant pick up something from the ground without injuring yourself, you have issues.

I know a few people personally who got slipped disks in their back from deadlifting and have read many stories from people online who permanently wrecked their backs from deadlifting. I haven't heard nearly as many stories about people getting injured from the bench press, squats, or the OHP. Have you never seen anyone in the gym deadlifting with form so bad that looks like they're a dog taking a dump? It seems to be a common issue.

[LactoseTolerant]

If you want to quit, quit. Judging from your other recent threads, that's what you're about.

[sooby]

I know a few people personally who got slipped disks in their back from deadlifting and have read many stories from people online who permanently wrecked their backs from deadlifting. I haven't heard nearly as many stories about people getting injured from the bench press, squats, or the OHP. Have you never seen anyone in the gym deadlifting with form so bad that looks like they're a dog taking a dump? It seems to be a common issue.

and surely you've heard stories of pec injuries, shoulder injuries and people decapitating themselves on bench press? But you wouldn't stop benching would you. Actually happens pretty often, probably even more so than blowing out your back on the DL.

If your form is good and solid and don't ego lift, you probably won't injure yourself. You can't take single stories especially if you don't know the context.

I film myself every time I deadlift, not every set but my heaviest set. You should also be able to tell that your back is rounding even without a camera.

[BenMcLeodNZ]

Trap bar deadlifts are an OK compromise.

[Shihanlifter]

Upper or lower back?

Some upper back rounding is generally fine. Lower back rounding is always bad and should be avoided.

[DCSpartan]

I know a few people personally who got slipped disks in their back from deadlifting and have read many stories from people online who permanently wrecked their backs from deadlifting. I haven't heard nearly as many stories about people getting injured from the bench press, squats, or the OHP. Have you never seen anyone in the gym deadlifting with form so bad that looks like they're a dog taking a dump? It seems to be a common issue.

Again, if you cant pick up something from the ground without hurting yourself, you have issues.

Go ahead and quit deadlifting since you are so scared of 225 pounds. 225 squats and benchpresses will be even scarier for you.

[TheShadowMan]

You could try taking a friend with you to the gym, and ask them to watch your form as you do your sets. If they're someone who knows the lift, it should help iron out form issues so you can continue progressing with your deadlift. What it sounds like is happening, is that your form is better at a lower weight, but when you move up to something heavier - there's a form breakdown occurring. That should be a sign that you're not ready for more weight just yet. I'd stick to only as much weight as you can handle with good form, and eventually you'll strengthen to the point where the heavier weight will give you less issues. But don't give up, just keep reinforcing good technique, and in time you will improve.

[Millz12323]

Do you want to learn to pick up stuff from the ground without injuring yourself? Then practice deadlifting. If you're okay with not being able to do something so basic as that then don't practice.

[beq1991]

You could try taking a friend with you to the gym, and ask them to watch your form as you do your sets. If they're someone who knows the lift, it should help iron out form issues so you can continue progressing with your deadlift. What it sounds like is happening, is that your form is better at a lower weight, but when you move up to something heavier - there's a form breakdown occurring. That should be a sign that you're not ready for more weight just yet. I'd stick to only as much weight as you can handle with good form, and eventually you'll strengthen to the point where the heavier weight will give you less issues. But don't give up, just keep reinforcing good technique, and in time you will improve.

Another issue I've been running into that makes me consider replacing the conventional deadlift with the Romanian deadlift is I have no choice at my gym but to use hex plates when I deadlift, and sometimes the barbell gets out of position when it hits the ground and is crooked. Sometimes I'm able to reset the bar so it isn't crooked, but I feel like it makes it easier to lose form when I have to reset and get the bar into the proper position.

[TheShadowMan]

Another issue I've been running into that makes me consider replacing the conventional deadlift with the Romanian deadlift is I have no choice at my gym but to use hex plates when I deadlift, and sometimes the barbell gets out of position when it hits the ground. Sometimes I'm able to reset the bar so it isn't crooked, but I feel like it makes it easier to lose form when I have to reset and get the bar into the proper position.

Ah i'd always wondered about those, I figured the design was so that it prevents them from rolling. Never had the chance to use them personally though, my gym uses Troy VTX rounded(the 3-hole grip type) so I guess I lucked out there. Hex plates seem to be kind of a hot button topic, after hearing about how Brad Castleberry brings "fake" versions of them(that weigh much less than marked) into gyms for video shoots.

[beq1991]

Ah i'd always wondered about those, I figured the design was so that it prevents them from rolling. Never had the chance to use them personally though, my gym uses Troy VTX rounded(the 3-hole grip type) so I guess I lucked out there. Hex plates seem to be kind of a hot button topic, after hearing about how Brad Castleberry brings "fake" versions of them(that weigh much less than marked) into gyms for video shoots.

I think I'm less concerned about my form when I start with a perfectly positioned bar on the ground, and more concerned about the prospect of losing my form when I set the bar down on the ground and it rolls out of position. It's much easier to lose form when you have to reset and make sure the barbell isn't crooked after each rep. Usually I have to at least shift my feet slightly, if not reposition the bar. I feel like most gyms where I am are commercial gyms, so they're going to have those hex plates. My gym has a Crossfit section with normal rounded plates, but I don't want to pay more to get access to the Crossfit area of the gym