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The OP was quite clear. The risk versus reward for deadlifts is not (IHO) worth it. They are a staple in many programs (as noted here) but like a few other ex

by ZenPro 12y ago

The OP was quite clear. The risk versus reward for deadlifts is not (IHO) worth it. They are a staple in many programs (as noted here) but like a few other exercises some professionals do not think they are worth the risk. Similar to 'Good Mornings' which other coaches avoid. Bruce Lee famously injured his back performing Good Mornings.

Detrus 12y ago
If you exclude deadlifts it's now harder to exercise important muscles necessary for bench and overhead press. These would be your back muscles and lats. You can do rows, but they require many of the same lower back muscles as deadlifts, which you didn't train properly by avoiding deadlifts. So if your bench goes into 250lb+ range but your deadlift is barely 315lb, and your row is 150 lbs, you are exposing your shoulders to injury by having a strength imbalance between chest and back muscles. I stopped deadlifting, but continued weighted pullups and rows but still experienced shoulder problems from bench. They subsided when I added deadlifts back. Of course you can also stop benching to get weaker there and preserve the muscle balance. But if you don't, then you have to take calculated risks. By avoiding deadlifts while continuing to bench you're trading off the risk of a potential injury in one place for a guaranteed injury in another. That's why classic lifting programs include exercises for the whole body, not just ones you like. The professionals that exclude them must also balance your chest/shoulder strength. Or must demand you spend more time in the gym doing back volume. Or insist on more humble fitness goals. Or focus on machines, which increases your risk of injury whenever you do physical activity in the real world. Or succeed with enough clients that they can fail with the rest. There is no free lunch. As with "professionals" in any industry the only common incentive among them is to get your money.

by ZenPro 12y ago

Detrus 12y ago

If you exclude deadlifts it's now harder to exercise important muscles necessary for bench and overhead press. These would be your back muscles and lats. You can do rows, but they require many of the same lower back muscles as deadlifts, which you didn't train properly by avoiding deadlifts. So if your bench goes into 250lb+ range but your deadlift is barely 315lb, and your row is 150 lbs, you are exposing your shoulders to injury by having a strength imbalance between chest and back muscles. I stopped deadlifting, but continued weighted pullups and rows but still experienced shoulder problems from bench. They subsided when I added deadlifts back. Of course you can also stop benching to get weaker there and preserve the muscle balance. But if you don't, then you have to take calculated risks. By avoiding deadlifts while continuing to bench you're trading off the risk of a potential injury in one place for a guaranteed injury in another. That's why classic lifting programs include exercises for the whole body, not just ones you like. The professionals that exclude them must also balance your chest/shoulder strength. Or must demand you spend more time in the gym doing back volume. Or insist on more humble fitness goals. Or focus on machines, which increases your risk of injury whenever you do physical activity in the real world. Or succeed with enough clients that they can fail with the rest. There is no free lunch. As with "professionals" in any industry the only common incentive among them is to get your money.