I just purchased bumper plates to use on deadlift, and I have recognized that they are easier to use than olympic plates. I am relatively new to deadlifts so I have to focus on keeping my lower back as straight as possible. With the olympic plates, when I film myself even while focusing really hard, I cannot seem to straighten my back perfectly. Is it the best idea to raise my deadlifts when doing them to protect my lower back? Or is it better to do a rack pull then transition to deadlifts with olympic plates from the ground?
BB54,
Thanks for the post. I wouldn’t agree that because you (or anyone else) are new to deadlifts that you need to focus on keeping your lower back in any particular position in order to reduce injury risk. Your back will not be perfectly straight during a deadlift, squat, or other exercise using the lower extremities. I write about this here:
For efficiency purposes, some change to your technique may be beneficial. I cannot tell that from here.
That all being said, if you want to pull from an elevated surface instead of the ground- that would be fine too from a health promotion standpoint.
-Jordan