Deadlifts: a convo btwn my girl and I

[Ivan]

So as the thread title suggests, my girl and I got into this conversation. It happened like this; yesterday morning I awoke in bed to discover I had what looked like either a broken blood vessel or some kind of scrape/bruise on my lower abdominal wall. It is about half the size of a playing card and it does not hurt. I had a hard training session (I train DC style) the night before, and remember really straining when I was doing deadlifts, as I went heavy enough that I needed to use straps. So my girl spots this little mark and expresses her concern that I am going to hurt myself. I told her it was from doing deadlifts, and she asked me what that movement was. I was a little shocked because although she works out (she does cardio and does lift weights, never with me though, and for what it is worth has a lovely physique) she also has a degree in Kinesiology, so I thought for sure she new what deadlifts were. So I stood up, and mimicked the motion of a deadlift, and then she said "ohhh.. yes... Well no wonder.." And I looked at her puzzled and said "no wonder what??!" She then told me that this particular movement had been branded as "bad" and her professors had stressed how it was bad for the back, etc etc. I looked at her and said "this 'movement' has and is responsible for some of the strongest and best built athletes on the planet!" She told me her instructors had said that "they don't call them deadlifts for no reason" !!!! What? I had never heard THAT ONE before, and I said it had to do with the weight being picked up from 'dead' position -- like a body or something (I am actually unsure of why they call them deadlifts) and the weight is just "dead weight" and you must pick it up. Not because it can kill you or hurt you. Anyhow, We agreed to disagee, and I was a little stunned that teachers in this area are trying to take this out of an athlete's arsenal. I remember when I was in highschool doing power cleans, (not the press though) and when I transferred to another school, the coaches preffered us doing squats and sled work. Now, those are obviously important too, but for me, deadlifts were the most exhausting, more than squats, they just made me sore deep in the muscle.

So my question is:

have any of you ever had a little red mark form when doing these? Is it a broken vessel or capillary?

Does anyone know where the name "deadlift" originates from? Was I kinda right about it?

 

[Ivan]

Also

I have always had good traps. And I always see guys doing shrugs and such, trying to develop their traps. They almost ALWAYS come up to me and ask me how I got my traps. It is simple I tell them, two things: wrestling and deadlifts.

 

[maldorf]

You wear a belt right? I think it came from the belt cutting into your skin. Ive had those many many times. its just a bruise where the belt was cutting or pulling into your skin there. Thats my guess. Is it about where the buckle is? I think its usually like the top of the belt buckle that ends up doing it.

 

[Emery]

My traps are probably my best bodypart and I completely attribute my traps to genetics and deadlifts. I also do shrugs but those deadlifts are what make my traps grow. Deadlifts have always come naturally to me and I love going heavy with them.

A lot of guys at my gym ask me about them, complain about them, whine about them causing bruises on their shins, etc. I have never had bruises on my shins from them. I guess some people just aren't cut out to do them.

Also, I never really started growing good until I started deadlift really heavy.
I think they are super anabolic! I love em!!

 

[Big Dave Smith]

You wear a belt right? I think it came from the belt cutting into your skin. Ive had those many many times. its just a bruise where the belt was cutting or pulling into your skin there. Thats my guess. Is it about where the buckle is? I think its usually like the top of the belt buckle that ends up doing it.

That or you have a tear. I rarely use a belt... mostly because of the way the belt damn near slices my stomach and I can never breath properly. Definitely feel around the area and see how it feels doing minor ab work. You'll know quickly whether or not the injury is serious.

 

[maldorf]

That or you have a tear. I rarely use a belt... mostly because of the way the belt damn near slices my stomach and I can never breath properly. Definitely feel around the area and see how it feels doing minor ab work. You'll know quickly whether or not the injury is serious.

Yeah, wearing a belt can be painful in the deadlift, ecpecially when youre in the bottom portion bending over it really cuts into you. If he has no real pain now its probably just the skin. You know it if you have a hernia. The pain feels like someone is burning you with a hot poker. I think he just pinched the skin with the buckle, doubt it went down to the muscle.

 

[royal]

You wear a belt right? I think it came from the belt cutting into your skin. Ive had those many many times. its just a bruise where the belt was cutting or pulling into your skin there. Thats my guess. Is it about where the buckle is? I think its usually like the top of the belt buckle that ends up doing it.

I get them from my belt also,deads & squats.

 

[whiteknucks]

hey ivan, is it red marks like you get on your traps and shoulders from the bar while squatting? thats weird man, could be from your belt.

 

[Ivan]

Well well well

I think you gentlemen are on to something. I do think it could be the belt! The area is not sore to the touch, except a little irritated when I touch it topically, in other words it is the skin. I am almost certain now actually. I did not even think of it! Thanks guys!

Big Dave Smith -- yeah man I also struggle to breathe when I get into the failing reps, but I am afraid not to use a belt when doing them though..

Emery -- yep, same with me. My shins get scrapes on them from time to time, but no bruising.

A question for you all:

When doing regular deads (not stiff-legged) what do you guys do with your feet in terms of width and stance?

 

[whiteknucks]

I think you gentlemen are on to something. I do think it could be the belt! The area is not sore to the touch, except a little irritated when I touch it topically, in other words it is the skin. I am almost certain now actually. I did not even think of it! Thanks guys!

Big Dave Smith -- yeah man I also struggle to breathe when I get into the failing reps, but I am afraid not to use a belt when doing them though..

Emery -- yep, same with me. My shins get scrapes on them from time to time, but no bruising.

A question for you all:

When doing regular deads (not stiff-legged) what do you guys do with your feet in terms of width and stance?

i match the inside bridge of my feet to the outside of my shoulders. my legs are long so i cant spread out like the big boys do.

 

[animalsd]

my feet are about 6-8 inches apart... inside the smooth part of the barbell

 

[Kaladryn]

I think deadlifts get a bad rap because people do them wrong, usually because they are either going too heavy, or they don't have the proper hip and hamstring flexibility. Yet even with all the bad form deadlifts you see in the gym, there is a suprising lack of deadlift related injuries.

 

[JETHRO TULL]

Ivan,

I have had stuff like that happen. My belt digs in sometimes. The worst case of this for me was one the leg press. I don't know how it happened but the belt felt like it slipped underneath one of my lower ribs on my right side. That hurt and left a mark!

Deads and cleans work my traps like nothing else does.

 

[B~RAD]

1. I'm sure it's just from your belt. i get marks from time to time like that too

2. you were right about why it's called a deadlift.

 

[maldorf]

I think you gentlemen are on to something. I do think it could be the belt! The area is not sore to the touch, except a little irritated when I touch it topically, in other words it is the skin. I am almost certain now actually. I did not even think of it! Thanks guys!

Big Dave Smith -- yeah man I also struggle to breathe when I get into the failing reps, but I am afraid not to use a belt when doing them though..

Emery -- yep, same with me. My shins get scrapes on them from time to time, but no bruising.

A question for you all:

When doing regular deads (not stiff-legged) what do you guys do with your feet in terms of width and stance?

Dont do that life without a belt. Just suffer a few bruises every now and then. As far as stance, I do best with sumo style.

 

[maldorf]

Ivan, next time youre in the gym put on your belt. See if the belt buckle hits you about where your bruise is.

 

[Ivan]

yep

That's what it was! I am going to try the sumo stance this monday when doing deads. One thing that has scared me was I have seen guys using wrist wraps on deads and when they fail on that last rep, they fall forward with their wraps yanking them down! Never had it happen but I have seen how embarassing it looks when it does happen. Lol.

 

[w8tlifterty]

Hey Ivan, hope all is well man! Belt bruise for sure sounds like, I just got done pulling deads and tried to squeeze out a few extra reps tonight and have the same thing you mentioned... I did get a pr for myself tho, pretty stoked at the moment 505 x 9, had my mind set on 10 but just flat out gassed and lower back said no more as my form was getting loose.

As far as feet placement, I'd go with what feels most 'natural'... I do conventional deads, they feel best to me... I think many can pull more w/ sumo but I just cant get the movement down, never feels right.
I like feet shoulder width maybe slightly more w/ toes pointed out just a midge. Bar is set up about the middle of my foot, tense my back (very little arch) and hips taking the 'slack' out the bar and driving up w/ my glutes tight and keeping the bar close to my body.. I'm almost 5.9 if that makes a difference... never had any injury's from this set up and my lower back always feels good, seems to work for me.