Can I build a good backwithout deadlifts?

[Slyder190]

I have deadlifted on and off through the years. I have what they call a sway back, which is kind of like scoliosis, but my back curves inward, not to the side. I've bveen concerned about using heavy dealifts, but have done so with no real probs. Nowadays my knees give me a little troube. I squatted for years without any probsd, and in the past yeayn started feeling pain. My doc said lay off them, but I will go back to regular squats soon. I use hack suats and leg presses. Anyway, as far as back, I'm worried about fuckin up my knees anymore with heavy deadlifts. I know they build great strength, but it seems that the benefit goes to the low back, traps and hams overall. Do a lot of you out there use deadlifts religously? Do any guys have great back built without deadlifts? I need some insight. I'm 26.

 

[bignate73]

id say i have a pretty decent back. you dont NEED deadlifts, but they are good for stimulating the back to grow. have you stretched your back to try to possibly eliminate your swayback? lower back and hip flexors to alleviate any possible muscle imbalances. i would do that if you throw a d.l. plan into the mix, this will alleviate the muscular tension portion of your condition. that will leave only the structural portion to be dealt with.

hope that clears things up. d.l's are good, but not necessary.

peace

 

[diamonddiceclay]

there are other things for back besides DL

 

[gymtime]

I've been lifting for many years and have only recently started to do deadlifts. I've always been happy with how my back looks. Got the V-shape thing and all that, plus some people have commented on it and asked me about training. So yeah, deads are great, but not a requirement.

 

[scotty green]

deads are not a must but are a very good excerise. I usually do them every 3rd workout. I have found that if I do deads all out I can't bust ass on legs and if I bust ass on legs I can't go all out on deads.

 

[Mjollnir]

I have done heavy deads for a few years (ard 500 lbs), and while they're great for growing for a while, I have found recently that adding olympic lifts (clean and jerk, snatch, power clean, jerks, etc...) have had a dramatic effect on my back strength and size, and all-around strength as well.

Check out http://www.testosterone.net/articles/170top9.html for a lot of great back exercises.

 

[endpoint]

are we talking about upper or lowerback?
this suggests you are talking about upperback(lats)
"I know they build great strength, but it seems that the benefit goes to the low back, traps and hams overall"


kids on here keep talking about deads being a lat exercise.......WTF?
In my eyes its a glute, ham, lower back exercise.
they only time it is a upperback exercise is when you use a really wide "snatch" grip. (or your upperback is weak i guess)

how about pull ups/chin ups? cant do them? use a chair and rest your feet on them....only use the chair to eleminate the weight of your feet not to push your self up. or how about Synaptic Facilitation? if you can bust out one or two pull ups. try doing them all through out the day. everytime you pass something you can chin up on...pull your self up once or twice.
you should be able to do sets of pullups in no time.i dont know how long you should leave inbetween pulls up......maybe a hour at minimum.

also:bent over rows.

 

[MonStar1023]

I dont believe that heavy deads are a MUST for building a massive back but they do really help. I mean I build a pretty good set of lats using chins and bentover rows (Yates style) and I really didnt incorporate deads too much. For trap development I think theyre #1 though and to really flame your spinal erectors I think the same. Good luck bro.


Stick to the basics!!

 

[shaft]

are we talking about upper or lowerback?
this suggests you are talking about upperback(lats)
"I know they build great strength, but it seems that the benefit goes to the low back, traps and hams overall"


kids on here keep talking about deads being a lat exercise.......WTF?
In my eyes its a glute, ham, lower back exercise.
they only time it is a upperback exercise is when you use a really wide "snatch" grip. (or your upperback is weak i guess)

how about pull ups/chin ups? cant do them? use a chair and rest your feet on them....only use the chair to eleminate the weight of your feet not to push your self up. or how about Synaptic Facilitation? if you can bust out one or two pull ups. try doing them all through out the day. everytime you pass something you can chin up on...pull your self up once or twice.
you should be able to do sets of pullups in no time.i dont know how long you should leave inbetween pulls up......maybe a hour at minimum.

also:bent over rows.

why deadlift then? why not just squat till you can squat no more?

 

[supersizeme]

like monstar said...if anything deads will do wonders for your traps. it doesn't hit your lats very hard but it will thicken up your traps in a big way. it will also help give you a big fucking ass.