Deadlifts and Shoulder Retraction
- Thread starter Soosan
- Start date
Timber99
Cathlete
I am not Cathe, and I hope that I am giving perfect instruction(!), but when you retract your shoulders, you are keeping them square and back without rounding. The idea is to keep good posture and not "sag" in any direction. Your retraction should not be so severe as to squeeze your shoulder blades together.
It's a tough move to perfect, but once you do, you will feel them!
It's a tough move to perfect, but once you do, you will feel them!
Soosan,
Timber99 gave you great advice on form! If you try too hard to squeeze the shoulder blades, the movement feels awkward. If you slump forward, you won't get the effectiveness. The happy medium- good posture- works best. Like Cathe says, you'll feel the lower back and hams working!
Gina
Timber99 gave you great advice on form! If you try too hard to squeeze the shoulder blades, the movement feels awkward. If you slump forward, you won't get the effectiveness. The happy medium- good posture- works best. Like Cathe says, you'll feel the lower back and hams working!
Gina
endorphin_junkie
Cathlete
Hi Susan:
Here's my .02
A strong 'set' position mimics ideal standing posture, what better foundation to build upon. If a person is standing with ideal posture, a plumbline at their side would coincide with the middle of the ear, then the shoulder joint.
If you exaggerate the scapular retraction you create an unnatural curve in your thoracic spine and risk muscular imbalances.
Hope this helps
Take Care
Laurie
p.s. I get a big kick out of your banter with A-Jock, too funny:7
p.p.s. give my regards to Rocky
Here's my .02
A strong 'set' position mimics ideal standing posture, what better foundation to build upon. If a person is standing with ideal posture, a plumbline at their side would coincide with the middle of the ear, then the shoulder joint.
If you exaggerate the scapular retraction you create an unnatural curve in your thoracic spine and risk muscular imbalances.
Hope this helps
Take Care
Laurie
p.s. I get a big kick out of your banter with A-Jock, too funny:7
p.p.s. give my regards to Rocky
DebbieH
Cathlete
Hey Laurie!
Did you see the terrible form Rocky had today doing deadlifts? I think it was because his cheeks were filled with nuts and it made him too TOP heavy! ;-)
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
Did you see the terrible form Rocky had today doing deadlifts? I think it was because his cheeks were filled with nuts and it made him too TOP heavy! ;-)
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
Thanks for the replies, everyone! I think I've been doing them right because I do feel them in the hamstrings and lower back.
Just wanted to make double-sure, because Rocky (who is ALWAYS trying to correct my form) told me to make sure my shoulderblades are jammed into each other the way a branch meets the trunk of a tree and to arch my back the way he does when he soars from treetop to treetop. As proof he showed me an article written by "Bald-Two-Oh" in the Jan 2004 issue of "Squirrel Fitness." He forgets that research done with squirrels doesn't always apply to other species.
Just wanted to make double-sure, because Rocky (who is ALWAYS trying to correct my form) told me to make sure my shoulderblades are jammed into each other the way a branch meets the trunk of a tree and to arch my back the way he does when he soars from treetop to treetop. As proof he showed me an article written by "Bald-Two-Oh" in the Jan 2004 issue of "Squirrel Fitness." He forgets that research done with squirrels doesn't always apply to other species.