Strength training

3 things about deadlifts,

Start light.
Progress slowly.
Nail the technique.

Great exercise but relatively high risk of injury if not performed correctly.

3 Likes

I’d add a common error I see is that deadlifts end up being performed more like a squat pattern, hips down rather than hips back (this is also a problem with the hex bar as it can encourage more of a squat pattern) . Also lack of mobility in ankles can cause heels to lift. Try it just with dumbbells also

3 Likes

Love a deadlift, but also think its probably the only strength move I do where I have injured myself with it.

As above worth spending time nailing the technique. No 1 bad move I see is people the bar too far away from the shins

3 Likes

Thanks fellas, luckily the Tri club does its S&C sessions with the University’s S&C mentor who coaches all the sports teams and the other coaches at the Uni.
He spent the whole of one session drilling the technique into us one step at a time before we did them in anger as part of the next week’s session.
I put on some plastic 5kg weights (same diameter as the metal ones to keep height consistent) to start with and wasn’t really planning to go much heavier but felt really comfortable and the technique seemed to click back in so progressed to 60kg, 80kg & 100kg without feeling any stress through my back; but I won’t be rushing to break any records any time soon.

4 Likes

This is the main reason I don’t like the 1 rep max protocol.
You see people doing it with deadlift and their technique immediately goes out the window.
As you say, stick to what’s comfortable, hit higher reps if necessary and only add 5kg at a time.

3 Likes

BW say that you shouldnt test 1RM except with very experienced athletes, better to test 5 or even 8 with a slow build and guestimate 100% intensity from that.

3 Likes

Yeah, 1RM is just looking for an injury so I convert my lifts in the table above using these percentages I found online somewhere. The surprising thing is how you can increase the weight quite a lot but the corresponding drop in reps gives you a lower 1 RM than you had before.
Eg. My bench numbers where 4@90kg feels way harder than 10@80kg but that gives a higher 1RM.
image

3 Likes

I knew a really really good deadlifter a few years ago.
The guy who broke the world record 24 hour thing ( I did half of it) but I’ve told that story before.

His technique was flawless.
His lifts were identical irrespective of the weight.

The 57.5 kg 6 per min for a day looked very similar to his 310 kg?
One off max, his limiter was grip strength and his failed lifts happened when the weight literally peeled his fingers open on the way up.

Impressive lifts as he was “ only” 14.5 stone but wouldn’t have passed any drug tests at certain times of the year.

Good coach too, “ look up and push your feet through the floor”

4 Likes

Up to 110kg (6 reps) on deadlifts this week.
The lad on duty yesterday is a powerlifter and runs sessions for the students so I asked him to have a look at my form, just to check I wasn’t doing anything fundamentally wrong to hurt myself, and he gave me the all clear.

2 Likes

BW version, virtually the same

1 Like

I prefer yours, it makes me stronger :wink:
Joking aside I can’t remember where I got mine from so I’ve adopted the BW one instead as that seems a legit source.

1 Like

RPE and RIR are used a lot also for intensity :-

and this also

1 Like

About 2 years after a classic big straight-arm palms down snowboard crash, I can finally do pull-ups again. Have been doing lots of other weights stuff but couldn’t get my arms straight above my head until now, particularly underarm grip. Now have suddenly found I have full mobility again.

10 Likes

Started a variation of strong lifts 5 weeks ago, app from playstore - Madcow program. I dont have the balance or coordination to do barbell squats properly so swapped them for weighted pullups.

Currently doing sets at
5x Pullups 5kg
5x Bench 75kg
5x Row 65kg
1x Deadlift 95kg
5x Strict OH press 35kg

Have been using a belt squat on the kbox which feels safer and gets a good leg pump going.

3 Likes

I would say a good use of 5 minutes twice a day is to work on mobility and stability, especially as that is key to triathlon performance. You can work on balance whilst cleaning your teeth or washing dishes

2 Likes

Yes mobility / stability are where i need to concentrate, sitting most of the day doesnt help. Ive recently incorporated a core routine which i do pre workout. Spinabifida occulta with a weaker left leg + heavy bar on my back scares the shit out of me though.

3 Likes

oh yer makes sense now, definitely, safety first, maybe another compromise is a smith machine (although I dont know how bad the condition is for you and if that would even work)

2 Likes

Made it down the gym last night after 2 weeks off with flu bug/cough.
Good to be back but strength has disappeared - managed 70kg (10 reps) on bench press compared to my previous best of 90kg (4 reps) or 80kg (10 reps)
Hopefully it will come back quicker, otherwise my goal of benching my bodyweight by the end of the year is looking a bit sketchy. I hate to think what my squats will be like on Thursday.

2 Likes

I can bench 5 reps of 45kg :muscle::grinning:

5 Likes

I’ve never done a bench press in my life! :rofl:

But i have lifted a bench before.

5 Likes