Are deadlifts worth it?

Asked by: Frances Harris

The deadlift is great at building up back strength (upper and lower) which hopefully can reduce the incidence of back injuries later on in life. The deadlift is a structural exercise which means it effectively loads the spine & hip enabling it to help build bone density and prevent osteoporosis.

Are deadlifts really that important?

Deadlifts are highly effective at increasing functional strength due to the activation of your largest lower body muscles. They also train you for the functional activity of safely lifting objects off of the floor, which is a key skill for day-to-day activities.

Are deadlifts a waste of time?

Used by powerlifters and other athletes, the floor deadlift is good for one thing and one thing only – strength. Deadlifts have never built any appreciable amount of muscle on anyone. Not only does it not build muscle mass, it’s just too risky to do.

Is deadlifts worth the risk?

Check out my podcast! Do the deadlift’s benefits outweigh its risks? Some people say that unless you’re a competitive strength athlete, the answer is no because the chances of getting seriously hurt are too high and the injuries are too severe.

Why are deadlifts not worth it?

The exercise isn’t to blame. It’s usually the inherent ego people bring to the exercise that results in trying to lift too much weight in comparison to their capabilities along with suboptimal technique. From a muscle building perspective, the risk/reward trade off of the deadlift may not be worth it for most people.

Why don t bodybuilders do deadlifts?

Supposed bodybuilders load up a bar just to see how much they can lift. That’s not bodybuilding and, as with squats, many guys just aren’t built for deadlifts (the ideal shape is short with relatively long arms), so this becomes a strength exercise that hits the glutes and legs as much as the back.

Is it OK not to deadlift?

Technically, Oberst says deadlifts are only essential if your sport tests them. Strongman and powerlifting both test the deadlift, so athletes in these fields must train this lift regularly. But for most other people, deadlifts aren’t absolutely necessary.

Are deadlifts overrated?

If your main goal is getting as strong as you can, working on picking things up from the floor is useful. However, it’s my opinion that the deadlift is overrated as a muscle builder, overrated for increasing athletic performance, and even overrated for building maximal strength.

Do deadlifts build size?

The deadlift does a good job of bulking up our superficial back muscles. The deadlift trains our hips through a deep range of motion, making it perfect for building bigger glutes. While doing that, the weight is held in our grips and hanging from our traps and rear delts, with our lats pulling it in close.

Do bodybuilders use deadlift?

For years, the deadlift has been the most feared exercise among bodybuilders, while it’s been praised among powerlifters. But, what people sometimes forget is that the deadlift determines your strength and is a mass builder. Finnish bodybuilders and powerlifters use the deadlift because it’s the true strength builder.

Are deadlifts better than squats?

So, while you’ll certainly get a great leg workout from both exercises, the answer to whether deadlifts can replace squats lies in what your goal might be. If you want to improve strength in your quads, the squat is still a better choice. And if you want more gains for the back of your legs, the deadlift wins.

Can you get big without deadlifts?

Can You Get Big Without Deadlifts? Yes, you can get big without deadlifts. However, the deadlift is considered one of the best compounded movements to build strength and mass for the posterior chain (glutes, hamstrings, low back, traps, and erectors).

Do deadlifts do more harm than good?

There are certain cases where deadlifting could actually do more harm than good and even cause a serious lower back or hamstring injury that could set you back months or even years.

Does deadlifting destroy your back?

Deadlifts are not bad for your back when done correctly. I also believe, that in today’s society the majority of people should be incorporating deadlifts into their exercise regimen. That doesn’t mean everyone’s deadlift will look the same, but there is certainly a healthy way you can deadlift!

Do NFL players do deadlifts?

Football players don’t deadlift as regularly as powerlifters, but they do hang-cleans quite often. A small fraction of the players on most any pro team have hang-cleaned over 400lbs.