Dead Lifts
- Thread starter Christi23
- Start date
hamstrings and glutes because you have to engage both of these muscle groups to get from the lowered, forward-lean position to back upright again. Form is critical on these. Keep shoulders back and down so that the legs do the work and the shoulders/upper body cannot take over or risk strain.
Clare
Clare
dss62467
Cathlete
It takes a while to get these puppies down right, too. Make sure you tighten your core when you do them and squeeze your glutes when you come up. Until I got the core thing down, deadlifts bothered my lower back. They take a lot of concentration. You'll know you're doing them right when you feel the pull in your hamstrings.
scm
Cathlete
You were given great information from the above posters, but just to let you know, since you said you're new to Cathe; on the Home page you can select exercises to get form pointers and muscle group that is worked. It's a great tool to refer to when you're just starting out.
http://www.cathe.com/quarter_deadlifts.htm
Susan C.M.
http://www.cathe.com/quarter_deadlifts.htm
Susan C.M.
kathryn
Cathlete
When doing these "straight-leg deadlifts," I like too think of one of those bird toys that dips its beak in a glass of water, then comes up again. It bends only from the hips, and keeps the upper body in the same position throughout. That's what you should think of when doing the move: keep the upper body stable (shoulders back and down, chest up, natural curve in the lower back) then tip forward from the hips (not waist).
Aside from the hamstrings and glutes, deadlifts also work the lower back isometrically (you shouldn't be moving through the lower back, but there is tension there) and the traps (upper back) as well. Regular deadlifts (picking the bar up off the floor with bent legs) works these more than straight legs (but really not "straight" is in locked out : there should be a slight bend to the knee).
Aside from the hamstrings and glutes, deadlifts also work the lower back isometrically (you shouldn't be moving through the lower back, but there is tension there) and the traps (upper back) as well. Regular deadlifts (picking the bar up off the floor with bent legs) works these more than straight legs (but really not "straight" is in locked out : there should be a slight bend to the knee).
desertbriez
Banned
although cathe says these work the back (and it's in the back portion of at least one of the workouts.. can't remember which right now....) i pretty much only feel these in my hamstrings... i don't even notice my glutes working... but it sure does do a good workout on my hammies! i LOVE deadlifts! (i have a mirror in my workout area.. so i know my form is correct!)
starlight6
Cathlete
I was going to say they work the back too...which I feel, but not as much as the hamstrings! BOY do I feel it there.
Kathryn, are you the one who posted that toy bird thing originally? I owe you a big thank you, because that image is what finally got me doing the darn things correctly. So...THANK YOU!!!
Ruth
Kathryn, are you the one who posted that toy bird thing originally? I owe you a big thank you, because that image is what finally got me doing the darn things correctly. So...THANK YOU!!!
Ruth
dss62467
Cathlete
desertbriez, do you squeeze your glutes when you come up on the deadlift? I think you should be feeling them if you do.
I used to only feel the work in my hamstrings, but then I really started contracting my back and glutes when I do the lift (mostly because my back gets really tired due to my scoliosis). Once I started doing that, I felt the work in all 3 places and it became a much more satisying exercise. But, that's just me...
I used to only feel the work in my hamstrings, but then I really started contracting my back and glutes when I do the lift (mostly because my back gets really tired due to my scoliosis). Once I started doing that, I felt the work in all 3 places and it became a much more satisying exercise. But, that's just me...
