Deadlifts are like bubbly water: There are so many brands these days, it’s hard to know which one to choose.
But when you dig a little deeper—although the concept of the movement is the same for all variations of deadlifts in that they build posterior chain and core strength—their subtleties become evident, and can make a big difference. Just like the very carbonated Bubly water versus the light bubbles characteristic of the timeless San Pellegrino: Different strokes for different folks.
Let’s take a closer look at some deadlift variations and the benefits of each:
The conventional deadlift is your classic deadlift, done with your feet hip to shoulder-width apart, shins touching the barbell. Performing it correctly means hinging at the hips, all the while keeping a straight, neutral spine throughout the movement, and then squeezing your glutes together as you extend into a standing position.
Some of the benefits include:
The Sumo deadlift is just like the conventional deadlift, but it requires taking a much wider stance with your feet (and turning your feet outward a bit) than the conventional deadlift, and then gripping the bar inside your legs and feet.
Some of the benefits include:
The trap bar deadlift involves positioning your body inside a trap barbell, keeping your feet shoulder width apart and gripping the handles on the bar. From there, the same principles apply as do in a conventional and sumo deadlift: Hinge at the hips, maintain a neutral spine and squeeze your glutes at the top of the lift. The lifter may also choose to perform a more squat-dominant pattern, with greater knee flexion.
Some of the benefits include:
The Romanian Deadlift (RDL) is a deadlift that maintains a higher hip position and rigidity in the knees, thus removing the quads more so than other versions of the deadlift. It begins at the top of the lift, with a hip to shoulder width stance position. From there, send the hips back until you feel tension in the hamstrings (the weight does not need to go all the way to the ground as it does in a conventional, sumo or trap bar deadlift), all the while keeping the hips high and the spine neutral.
Some benefits include:
The single leg deadlift starts in the standing position, like the conventional RDL and requires the lifter to bend at the hips, all the while standing on one leg, while sending the second leg behind them.
Some benefits include:
From deadlifts to bench press to pull-ups: the best exercise variations are always relative to the individual. What gets you results might not be the best exercise for the person lifting next to you.
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