Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below
deadlifting with a bad back
- Thread starter chrisoh
- Start date
It will all depend on what you mean by bad back. I had spinal fusion surgery done 2 years ago where they fused L4-L5 with pedicle screws and titatnium rods. They had to do the surgery posteriorly which means they cut through my back muscles to get to my spine. It took me awhile to recover from the surgery and then once I was allowed to lift again I had to work to strengthen my back up. It was like starting new in that it caused me pain to just bend over. I started back doing deadlifts and squats in Jan and while my totals are not mind boggling, they are improving. I am currently DL about 405 and aquatting 365 although haven't really maxxed because of no spot.
If you back is bad because of an injury you need to let it heal. If your back is bad because it is sore, let it heal and lower your weights. Work on perfect form. When that is mastered then move up in weights. Better to lay a great foundation and build from there. Hope this helps.
P.S. Try incorporating some light(to start) goodmornings into your workout to help strengthen your back.
LongBall
If you back is bad because of an injury you need to let it heal. If your back is bad because it is sore, let it heal and lower your weights. Work on perfect form. When that is mastered then move up in weights. Better to lay a great foundation and build from there. Hope this helps.
P.S. Try incorporating some light(to start) goodmornings into your workout to help strengthen your back.
LongBall
Last edited:
The Dude
New member
As he said, it depends upon what you mean by bad back. If you've had an injury or two to a back/hip muscle, then first you must let it heal. Once the soreness has subsided, go with very light work (i.e. back extensions with no wt. or deadlift the bar and just the bar) to get the muscles working again. At first, you may get extra soreness in that muscle, but only a little. If it's a lot, then you over did it. You need to really guard against that. Then start working back into greater weights with damn good form. Try back extensions supersetted with deadlifts done bodybuilding style (stop the weight just shy of the floor, perfect control). If your back problem involves your spine in anyway, then I'm not giving any advice.
Robert Jan
New member
I personally wouldn`t take the risk.
I like the deadlift a lot, but it can be properly replaced. bbers dont NEED to deadlift.
I like the deadlift a lot, but it can be properly replaced. bbers dont NEED to deadlift.
chrisoh
New member
i dont know what's wrong with my back, I've wrestled and all of that in high school but it never started hurting until I was out of high school last year and one day it was sore and after that my back collapsed on me 4 times where the pain was so severe I couldn't function normally for days.
You MUST strengthen your entire torso and train your injury. If you do not...it will be like that forever.
B True
B True
Arioch
New member
FWIW, the greatest deadlift in history was Lamar Gant, who had scoliosis so severe that when deadlifting with 75% of a one rep max, his spinal devation was over 70%. He was fifteen time International Powerlifting Federation World Champion, and his deadlift records in the 123 and 132 pound classes still stand, after more than 15 years. He was also the only man to pull five times bodyweight, and he did it in both weight classes.
Your back sounds pretty bad.
I herniated two (L4, L5) disks doing squats eight years ago, so I can relate to back pain.
The first thing you need to do is stop guessing. Make an appointment with a doctor, preferably an orthopedic doctor/surgeon. The first thing he/she will ask is if you have any pain in your legs or butt. If you do, they'll guess you have a disk injury. Otherwise they'll figure you just need physical therapy to strengthen and stretch your lower back. Without an MRI, though, they'll be guessing too so I highly recommend pushing for an MRI exam.
After you get an idea of what's wrong, then you can figure out how to manage the pain and avoid making it worse. Options include chiropratic care, massage therapy, ibuprofin etc.
You need to know what's happening with your back before you go any further, but if you disregard all that at least forget about stiff legged deads. And b fold is right, strengthen the entire torso and you're going to have to start very, very slowly using light to moderate weight on anything involving your lower lumbar.
I herniated two (L4, L5) disks doing squats eight years ago, so I can relate to back pain.
The first thing you need to do is stop guessing. Make an appointment with a doctor, preferably an orthopedic doctor/surgeon. The first thing he/she will ask is if you have any pain in your legs or butt. If you do, they'll guess you have a disk injury. Otherwise they'll figure you just need physical therapy to strengthen and stretch your lower back. Without an MRI, though, they'll be guessing too so I highly recommend pushing for an MRI exam.
After you get an idea of what's wrong, then you can figure out how to manage the pain and avoid making it worse. Options include chiropratic care, massage therapy, ibuprofin etc.
You need to know what's happening with your back before you go any further, but if you disregard all that at least forget about stiff legged deads. And b fold is right, strengthen the entire torso and you're going to have to start very, very slowly using light to moderate weight on anything involving your lower lumbar.
