People often think of the deadlift as a back exercise. And there’s some truth to that statement. Is deadlift a back exercise? The deadlift targets the lats, traps, and rhomboids, all essential back muscles. However, it also works many other muscles, including the glutes, quads, and hamstrings. It is not just a back exercise but also an inverse version of the squat.
Is Deadlift A Back Exercise? How Does Deadlift Help You Build a Strong Back?
To understand, let’s first look at what a strong back means. A strong back should be able to do three things: Does the deadlift help build all of these traits? Yes, and it does so to a great extent.
The deadlift works muscles like the lats, traps, and rhomboids, which are very important for all the three traits mentioned above. It also works other muscles like the glutes, quads, and hamstrings, which are all equally important for the above three traits. The deadlift is a complete back exercise.
How to Perform the Deadlift
The deadlift is quite simple to perform. You need to stand with your feet about hip-width apart. You can hold a barbell, dumbbells, or a trap bar. The trap bar is suitable for beginners as it takes a lot of stress off the back and knees. Wrap your thumbs around the bar and grasp it tightly.
The rest of your fingers should be curled around the bar. Wrap your shoulder blades together, and push your chest out. Keep a straight back, and bend your knees until your shins come in contact with the bar. Keep your back straight, and don’t let the bar touch your shins.
Squeeze your glutes and lift the bar off the ground. Your knees should remain bent and your back straight. Make sure to lift the bar with a “hip-hinge” motion. This means you are pushing your hips back while keeping your back straight. Take a deep breath, exhale, and lower the bar back. Repeat 10-12 times.
Benefits of Deadlift for Back and Body
The deadlift is the best option for strengthening your back. It also works your core, glutes, hamstrings, and quads. Studies show that deadlifts can also improve your posture. This is because it strengthens the muscles at the back and improves their posture.
The deadlift is a compound exercise which means that it works many muscles at the same time. It’s also a great cardio exercise as it increases your heart rate. You can perform this exercise anywhere, and it doesn’t require any equipment.
Deadlift helps in building a stronger core. It increases the strength of your core muscles, like the abdominals and lower back. This helps in improving your posture and keeping you from getting injured.
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