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Dead lift pain

post #1 of 23
11/23/08 at 11:10pm
Thread Starter 
Hi,

I did my weekly deadlift session and worked my way to a new PR, 265lbs. I have a question about what kind of pain one should feel. When I first DL a month ago, I would feel soreness in my hamstring and upper back (traps), today I feel pain in my lower back. It's not a constant pain but it hurts if I touch it or bend down too much/too quickly. I like to think that it's similar to having sore chest muscles after a heavy BP session. Do others experience this? Or is this something to be concerned about?

I know you are not qualified docs, but share your experiences on the deadlift.

Thanks,

AL
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post #2 of 23
11/23/08 at 11:18pm
Check your form. Soreness in your lowerback should be minimal IIRC.
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post #3 of 23
11/23/08 at 11:47pm
After heavy deads, or a particularly rough olympic lifting session, I can certainly feel the soreness in my lower back (the spinal erectors in particular).

As long as it is good sore, not injury sore, you should be fine. In any case, always always always watch your form on the deadlifts.
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post #4 of 23
11/23/08 at 11:51pm
^ What he said. During a deadlift your spinal erectors are isometrically contracting very hard, so it's not surprising that they'll feel sore. If it's a dull soreness and doesn't feel like an injury, you're probably fine. Make sure you're keeping your back arched, pushing through the heels, and not letting the bar drift out in front of you.
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post #5 of 23
11/24/08 at 3:34pm
as many said already, check your form, and other than that muscle soreness is ok. I mean you might have pulled something or pinched a nerve, but I doubt it. Now if it's your spine that's hurting.. watch out.
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post #6 of 23
11/24/08 at 3:35pm
i have 2 severely herniated disks and experience soreness every time i dead, shrug or squat.
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post #7 of 23
11/24/08 at 3:36pm
IME, lower back soreness is to be expected. It is my most sore muscle after DLing. Notice I said muscle. Your back should not feel strained, and it certainly should not feel injured. Simply sore.

The DL uses the lower back more so than any other exercise. If you are doing it properly, your lower back will be sore due to the fact that you are using it heavily to keep you back arched and not bent.

I love the feeling of a sore lower back - and it usually subsides within a day or two. If it lasts longer, it may be a structural injury and you should lay off the DL for a while, or at least revisit your form.
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post #8 of 23
11/24/08 at 3:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Milhouse View Post
(the spinal erectors in particular).

+1
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post #9 of 23
11/24/08 at 5:35pm
I defer to the board. I've been DL'ing for years. Maybe it's time I upped the weight. . .
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post #10 of 23
11/24/08 at 5:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hard2Fit View Post
I defer to the board.
I've been DL'ing for years.
Maybe it's time I upped the weight. . .

If you've been doing it for that long it could be that you just have a very strong lower back already.
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post #11 of 23
11/24/08 at 5:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by aleeboy View Post
Hi,

I did my weekly deadlift session and worked my way to a new PR, 265lbs. I have a question about what kind of pain one should feel. When I first DL a month ago, I would feel soreness in my hamstring and upper back (traps), today I feel pain in my lower back. It's not a constant pain but it hurts if I touch it or bend down too much/too quickly. I like to think that it's similar to having sore chest muscles after a heavy BP session. Do others experience this? Or is this something to be concerned about?

I know you are not qualified docs, but share your experiences on the deadlift.

Thanks,

AL

Try mixing some good mornings into your regimen. It definitely helped me strengthen my back and make going up in DL weight easier.
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post #12 of 23
11/24/08 at 9:36pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for your comforting words on the experiences you've had. I feel alot better today. I went for a Thai Massage (the clean type) last night and it felt great to have my lower back molested. Woke up feeling no soreness. Guess as you progress on the DL, you should be feeling some, or alot, of muscular soreness in the lower back.

I take all your points about form and I do pay alot of attention to this, especially now I'm looking to this exercise to give me a boost.

Cheers,

AL
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post #13 of 23
11/24/08 at 10:52pm
^ i go for deep tissue massage once every 10 days or so and it does wonders for the soreness.
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post #14 of 23
11/25/08 at 2:37am
I know I hurt my lower back real bad doing deadlifts wrong just a couple times. Make sure to keep your back straight and keep the angle between your back and the ground constant until your legs are extended. That was my mistake, at least.
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post #15 of 23
11/25/08 at 6:12am
aleeboy, Be careful, you just might be doing your deadlifts incorrectly. This summer, after reaching 300+ pounds on my deadlift, my immediate backpain told me that my form was way off. Read up on the lift and watch some videos on it. A key component to the deadlift is keeping your core tight. So long as your core is rigid throughout the lift, your back will keep its form. Remember, the deadlift builds a stronger back by learning to stay rigid while lifting a tremendous amount of weight. Your back should be tender after a heavy session, but definitely not in pain.
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