# Foot and Lower Leg Numbness during Romanian Deadlifts
**URL:** https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/foot-and-lower-leg-numbness-during-romanian-deadlifts/12962
**Category:** Training Q&A \[Moderated\]
**Created:** [November 5, 2022, 2:33am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/foot-and-lower-leg-numbness-during-romanian-deadlifts/12962 "2022-11-05T02:33:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@bcwamar](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/bcwamar)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2022, 2:33am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/foot-and-lower-leg-numbness-during-romanian-deadlifts/12962/1 "2022-11-05T02:33:38Z")
Hi everyone,
I’ve been doing Romanian deadlifts during my leg workouts, and noticed that during more fatiguing sets that both feet and lower legs (up to about mid-shin) start to go numb. Once I finish the sets, the numbness goes away quickly.
Besides the numbness, I feel no pain anywhere when doing RDLs, and have no preexisting back injuries as far as I know.
My questions are as follows:
1. Is this something I should be concerned about? Or is this just a symptom of high fatigue when doing RDLs?
2. Is this a sign of a some potential back injury? Or problem in general?
3. Should I keep doing RDLs?
Thank you in advance.
Ben
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### Author:  [@Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Jordan_Feigenbaum)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2022, 2:40pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/foot-and-lower-leg-numbness-during-romanian-deadlifts/12962/2 "2022-11-05T14:40:28Z")
It kind of sounds like you may be doing these with your knees locked. What do you think?
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### Author:  [@bcwamar](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/bcwamar)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2022, 7:37pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/foot-and-lower-leg-numbness-during-romanian-deadlifts/12962/3 "2022-11-05T19:37:42Z")
Thanks for the response Jordan,
I always make sure to keep a slight bend in my knees while doing these. Unless I’m locking my knees without realizing, but I don’t think that’s the case.
I would also like to point out that it usually occurs during higher volume sets that tend to be more fatiguing, not necessarily with heavy weight. For example, I could do a relatively heavy double or triple and be fine. However, if I do a tiring set of 10 or push an AMRAP set with lighter weight, that’s when I notice it.
Do you think I’m aggravating my sciatic nerve at all? Perhaps by stretching it to aggresively with this exercise?
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### Author:  [@Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Jordan_Feigenbaum)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2022, 3:24pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/foot-and-lower-leg-numbness-during-romanian-deadlifts/12962/4 "2022-11-06T15:24:43Z")
> [@bcwamar](#):
>
> Thanks for the response Jordan,
>
> I always make sure to keep a slight bend in my knees while doing these. Unless I’m locking my knees without realizing, but I don’t think that’s the case.
>
> I would also like to point out that it usually occurs during higher volume sets that tend to be more fatiguing, not necessarily with heavy weight. For example, I could do a relatively heavy double or triple and be fine. However, if I do a tiring set of 10 or push an AMRAP set with lighter weight, that’s when I notice it.
>
> Do you think I’m aggravating my sciatic nerve at all? Perhaps by stretching it to aggresively with this exercise?
I do not think you’re doing anything to your sciatic nerve, no. If these symptoms only occur during RDL’s and not any other activity, I think it’s likely that you’re knees are likely too straight during higher volume, lighter sets compared to heavier sets where you can’t do it like that. For completeness, RDL’s should have similar knee and hip flexion to a regular deadlift.
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### Author:  [@bcwamar](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/bcwamar)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2022, 2:47pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/foot-and-lower-leg-numbness-during-romanian-deadlifts/12962/5 "2022-11-07T14:47:02Z")
Thank you, that makes sense. I’m probably keeping my knees straighter than I should without realizing it. I’m going to focus on bending them more the next time I do exercise, and see if it happens again.
Thanks again.