Deadlifting with rounded back

Medical Q&A [Moderated]
1

Hello Drs,

I’ve found the pain science information that you put out fascinating and it’s been very enlightening to my understanding of pain and injuries. As a result, I’ve gone on to learn from Painscience.com, Clinical Athlete and Lorimer Moseley. I think it’s fair to say that you all agree that the back is much stronger than people tend to think and that actually injuring it is pretty uncommon/difficult to do.

This got me wondering why do we need to keep our backs in extension when deadlifting (and is it even that important)? Most deadlifting guides and internet commenters say that deadlifting with a rounded back is an injury risk, but the pain science stuff would suggest that this is not the case. But does rounding the back make the chance of a lifter feeling pain/experiencing a tweak increase? Or is keeping the back in extension more about being in the optimum mechanical position for the lift?

If someone always deadlifts with a rounded back are they more likely to develop a back injury? Are they more likely to feel non-specific back pain? Are they putting themselves at a mechanical disadvantage? Or is it not that big of a deal?

Hope this makes sense, and thanks!

2

As you have learned, injury is much more complex and multi-factorial than typically thought in the lifting world. We are not fragile little stick figures.

Deadlifting with a flatter back does tend to generate better positioning and efficiency (particularly as it pertains to the lockout, though you’ll see lots and lots of very strong people allow some back rounding in their maximal pulls, and just have strong enough erectors to finish the top of the lift without issues).

Have you ever watched atlas stone lifting in a strongman competition?

3

Yes, I was actually remembering when I first became interested in working out I used to watch Elliott Hulse’s videos (I know, I know…). He’d spend ages getting a trainee’s back flat for the deadlift using dowel rods etc., but then get them lifting stones in all sorts of weird contortions and rounded backs. It seemed strange at the time and stuck with me, but looking back I think that (knowingly or not) he wasn’t putting them at increased risk of getting hurt.

Such an interesting topic. I really appreciate how you’re helping us get beyond the received wisdom and leading us to the facts of the matter.