# Deadlifting with short arms
**URL:** https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/deadlifting-with-short-arms/4533
**Category:** Training Q&A \[Moderated\]
**Created:** [January 4, 2019, 12:27am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/deadlifting-with-short-arms/4533 "2019-01-04T00:27:27Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Shannon\_Robbie](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Shannon_Robbie)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2019, 12:27am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/deadlifting-with-short-arms/4533/1 "2019-01-04T00:27:27Z")
Hey guys, I have short t-rex arms and short femurs with a longer torso. I find it hard to do a conventional DL due to my back angle. I always end up with lower back muscular pain on both sides of my lower back. I switched to Sumo for a while and did my first PL comp pulling Sumo. However, my lower back still got sore. I’m now wondering if I should continue to do Sumo and work on my form…OR…should I try something else like conventional DL’s from 2" - 4" blocks or even Trapbar. I’m not sure if Block Pulls would be useful for a competitive Powerlifter since the bar will be on the floor at the meet. I seem to prefer Conventional to Sumo. I find Sumo feels unnatural to me. Let me know your thoughts on the matter. I’m new to competing and I only have a 320 lb DL at the moment. Thanks for your anticipated response.
---
### Author:  [@Austin\_Baraki](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Austin_Baraki)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2019, 2:02am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/deadlifting-with-short-arms/4533/2 "2019-01-04T02:02:52Z")
What has your training looked like?
This sounds more likely to be an issue related to your training load and programming than it is due to your short arms.
---
### Author:  [@Shannon\_Robbie](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Shannon_Robbie)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2019, 4:14pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/deadlifting-with-short-arms/4533/3 "2019-01-04T16:14:21Z")
Hey Austin,
I was working with a PL coach but I disliked his methods so now I’m back to doing a template from Beyond 5/3/1 called SVR. I found a bunch of information online about how short armed lifters are at a disadvantage to do the Conventional DL. Do you agree with that?