Zin

Well, I was just reading some posts while sitting in my chair and had another twinge of pain in my lower back again so I thought I would share my story in the hopes that others can avoid my situation. I have had constant back pain for the past 4 months now...all due to a stupid f...ing deadlift mistake.

I used to think that perfect form every time = no injuries. Boy was I wrong! I now realize how stupid and naive I really was. lol. I had done deadlifts with perfect form for about 2 years and was up to doing 6 reps with 315 easily for 3 sets. Well, it was just another back day when BAM ... my back gave out for no reason that I can tell whatsoever, keeping in mind that I maintained perfect form at all times.

I went to the doctor after a few weeks and had an x-ray and MRI done simply to confirm my worst nightmares, smashed disks in my lower back. Here I sit in pain 4 months later with the knowledge that I will live with this pain for the rest of my life and possibly require surgery in the future, Not to mention that any sort of back excercise is completely out of the question now. (Its even questionable for me to do light squats now). The doctor also told me that in his personal opinion, any type of deadlifts should be completely out of the question for any responsible athelete.

So, sorry for the book but I just felt that everyone should be aware that there are freak accidents out there when it comes to deadlifts and everone should take a good hard period of reflection when it comes to the benefits of deadlifts...I still am of the mind that they are one of the best back and core excercises out there but damn I would have never touched them had I known this would happen. Im not saying light deadlifts are out of the question but the idea of placing hundreds of pounds on nothing but my lower back and the muscles that surround it makes me sick to the stomach.

Cheers
-Zin

BigDyl

True Story, and this is why you should never do deadlifts.

Total ownage.

topolo

I agree.........they scare me.

StrongBlade

I bet you quite a bit of money that your abdominals were not up to par. A strong stomache means a strong back, and endless repetitions are not the answer to a strong stomach.

IRON MAN

PLEASE LISTEN UP!!!

Robert Dimaggio and I have been trying to convince everyone that deadlifts should be avoided unless your a competitive powerlifter. Why??? Because guys like Robert and I have been involved in the Iron lifting game for many years and have come to realize deadlifts simply aren't worth the trauma they bring forth to the back. I used to be a big advocate of the deadlift but not after my education with that exercise. I am close friends with two orthopedic surgeons and both perform multiple LOWER BACK surgeries each year because of "DEADLIFTS". This exercise can cause spinal disk to blow and leave you CRIPPLED even when done with proper form.. I don't what else to say???

Why settle for being a man when you can be an "IRONMAN".

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IRON MAN

Not true!!!

Why settle for being a man when you can be an "IRONMAN".

www.ironmaglabs.com

fufu

There is a risk with everything. I had hurt my back during deadlifts but was only out for a week thankfully. I thought I had good form, in fact the day I hurt my back I was really concentrating on form. I've since fixed it. The best way to know if you have good form is to get some who knows their shit on deadlifts get a profile view of you while you pull.

Sorry to hear about your injury.

I don't know about the doctor though, I feel he made a very generalized and ignorant statements saying that "any type of deadlifts should be completely out of the question for any responsible athelete".

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PreMier

Your a cheesedick

P-side Inc.

"the post-workout high is more profound than any drug-induced rush imaginable." -Dante B.

PreMier

Just because you and Robert dont have the genetic build to lift heavy, or to be deadlifting and its caused you to have problems doesnt mean the exercise is useless to everyone. Thats like me saying "Dont do ass to grass squats! Because this buddy of mine has knee problems because of it, and me as well" (yea yea even though a full ROM is better than not, and ATG is a great exercise, you can catch my drift)

P-side Inc.

"the post-workout high is more profound than any drug-induced rush imaginable." -Dante B.

MWpro

This does not include SLDLs right?

fufu

Now I'm torn on how I feel about deadlifts after reading this thread.

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WantItBad

wouldnt deadlifting help prevent lower back injury?

"Strength is the product of struggle"

"Your greatest challenge isn't another person. Its the burning in your lungs and the burning in your legs, its the voice in your head screaming STOP you cant do anymore. But you dont listen. You push harder and you start to hear a the whisper of YOU CAN. You realize you are not the person you thought you were is no match for the person you are."

AKIRA

Yeah no shit. I have a push/pull/leg routine and I have put it off due to a possible hernia. However, I dont posses(sp?) many symptoms of a hernia and the things I did notice have gone, so maybe it was groin pull.

Anyway, my back has ached a little from some heavy dealifts and its been 3 weeks now since Ive lifted anything lowerbody. Squats, dealifts, leg extensions, ham curls, etc. I want to see a doc first before I go back.

However, I cant take this shit. I want to do a real light workout program and really focus on form before going heavy..then this, THIS thread comes along.

HOWEVER.

I do recall reading Robert saying that this exercise could be fine, if its heavy/light enough for no less than, what, 8 reps? Anything lower, with higher intesity is asking for it. At least thats what I thought he was stating.
And thats exactly what I am going to go for next.

6' 209lbs (8/16)
Bench 360 (11/29)
Weighted Pullups 80lbs 3x3 (3/19)
Squat 370
Deadlift after herniation 385lbs 3x3 (3/17)
NASM certified 2/06
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Seanp156

It's funny then, that the only times I've ever gotten a pinched nerve from deadlifts was when I deadlifted in the 8-12 rep range about a year ago...

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WantItBad

our speed and strength coach in high school said to never deadlift over 6 reps ever

"Strength is the product of struggle"

"Your greatest challenge isn't another person. Its the burning in your lungs and the burning in your legs, its the voice in your head screaming STOP you cant do anymore. But you dont listen. You push harder and you start to hear a the whisper of YOU CAN. You realize you are not the person you thought you were is no match for the person you are."

AKIRA

Aw jesus. We are totally fucked then.

6' 209lbs (8/16)
Bench 360 (11/29)
Weighted Pullups 80lbs 3x3 (3/19)
Squat 370
Deadlift after herniation 385lbs 3x3 (3/17)
NASM certified 2/06
Journal

Seanp156

I've been fine since staying in the 1-6 range most of the time, and only going above that once every 2-3 weeks.

The real issue in the individual, however, how prone they are to injury, etc.

I'm pretty much with PreMier on my opinion with this one.

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zebianal

I do deadlifts in the 6 rep range and right now i only deadlift about 115 pounds (yeah i know it sucks but i make sure i have perfect form). I guess i'll stop adding weight to my deadlift once i reach 225 or something to prevent accidents like this from happening.

CowPimp

Not gonna stop me from doing deadlifts. A lot of people think they have perfect form and don't. A lot of people don't properly train their posterior chain to handle the load and round back that bitch off the ground. A lot of people are genetically predisposed to problems like this, and likely would've suffered eventually via other exercises anyway. A lot of people don't warmup properly.

Does the deadlift have some inherent risk? Sure, a lot of exercises do. Just don't jump to conclusions because some people have had issues as a result.

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Jay-Budaman

Thanks alot for scaring the shit out of me guys. Conventional deadlifts are my favorite exercise. I refuse to give them up. So what is the way to do them that is the least likely to cause injury? I usually do 3 sets of 4 @ 315 when training for strength and 3 sets of 10 at 275 when training for hypertrophy. But I'm still putting on weight because I consider myself a beginner when it comes to deads. I plan on doing 3 sets of 4 at 355 this week.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"

-Phillipians 4:13

Brutus_G

Man this worries me. I think I'm doing them right but now I'm not sure. Cowpimp will you post a vid with a perfect lift and explain form please or anyone who knows for sure. I was under the impression that back arched chest out and head up lifting from the legs,hips,and back straightening(while keeping it arched) was the way to do it.

"My main objective is to be professional but to kill him." "I want to rip out his heart and feed it to him [Lennox Lewis]. I want to kill people."- Mike Tyson

fufu

Remember to keep the bar very close to body while pulling and also for the eccentric part of the lift. That is what has helped me the greatest when trying to improve form.

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Brutus_G

so just touching the body or like an inch or two away? Also why do people do the grip with one palm facing them and the other away?

"My main objective is to be professional but to kill him." "I want to rip out his heart and feed it to him [Lennox Lewis]. I want to kill people."- Mike Tyson

fufu

Well I like to keep the bar extremely close to, or barely touching my shins when I start the pull. When the bar gets some distance from the body you put your self in the position for rounding your back easier.

The grip you are talking about is usually known as a "mixed grip", one hand supinated and one pronated. Most people can pull more weight using that kind of grip. However, P-Funk isn't a fan of mixed grip. I'll quote him from another thread:

"1) The hand that is supinated (palm up) places a greater, more compromising strain on the bicep tendon.

2) the supinated arm is always externally rotated while the pronated arm is always internally rotated. This puts some strange pull on the muscles in the spine and it is much easier to torque your back or rotate a little bit (especially if you are tight) during your pull."

Everything in moderation I suppose.

fufu's 1337 Journal

Your diet will set you free.

Brutus_G

thanks man now i'm gonna go dead lift(no for real i'm gonna go do my workout for my lower body)

"My main objective is to be professional but to kill him." "I want to rip out his heart and feed it to him [Lennox Lewis]. I want to kill people."- Mike Tyson

fufu

haha alright man. good luck. remember, perfect form!!

fufu's 1337 Journal

Your diet will set you free.

Brutus_G