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Sunday, September 8, 2013

By Russ Howe


For most people trying to figure out how to lose weight or build their strength, compound exercises often hold the keys to success. While many people don't push themselves hard enough on compound exercises to see positive results, there is one such compound exercise which often gets tarred with a bad brush. Today you are going to see why this should not be the case, and why you should learn how to deadlift as quickly as you possibly can.

Is the negative reputation it holds genuinely warranted? Are the potential gains greater than the potential risks?

The exercise in question today is undoubtedly one of the more controversial movements you can perform with a barbell. While some lifters swear by it's effectiveness for building strength, you will also come across many gyms who downright ban you from performing it. I:6:T

The reason many gyms ban the exercise is not because it's ineffective. It's as good as they come. However, so few people take the necessary time to learn the correct technique that it can become a major risk.

Getting this exercise wrong will cause pain like no other. Your lower back, legs and even your shoulders can be injured during this move, such is the wide variety of muscles that are used.

However, one could argue that this is no different to learning a barbell squat or a bench press. If you don't know what you are doing, why are you piling big weights on to the bar and putting your body at risk? You should take some time first to familiarize yourself with the correct technique before you do yourself some serious damage.

Most people suffer from the mistake of arching their back as they stand up. This can cause pain in the lower back area and, if heavy enough, can put you out of action for at least two weeks in most cases. Another common misdemeanor on this exercise is the bad habit of squatting down to lift the weight. It is not a squat, therefore you do not need to bend your knees below parallel. This move is more lower back than glutes.

The potential gains you can make from doing the move correctly, however, far outweigh any risks.

This exercise is the ultimate test of human strength. It is the barometer from which our overall strength is measured. That's because it's the one move which utilizes the raw power within a vast number of different muscle groups. When you perfect your technique, this will become your heaviest lift in the gym.

From involving the obvious muscles such as the quadriceps and the lower back, to the supporting cast which includes everything from your lats to your abdominal muscles.

Even bodybuilding greats such a Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lour Ferrigno credit their massive back to years of performing this move.

Being taught how to deadlift with proper form is perhaps one of the most valuable gym lessons you can get. It should become an absolutely priority, particularly if your goal is to gain more strength and musculature.




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