The one move that prevents injury

Photo: iStock

Deadlifts don’t often make our workouts but they should.

They lengthen the hamstring which are ignored for quads, resulting in muscle imbalance.

You see, every muscle group has an opposing one that it works with to contract and lengthen – biceps and triceps, quadriceps and hamstrings, hip flexors and glutes – and it’s vital to build both.

Doing so improves posture and reduces injury risk. A study in the Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy found people whose quads and hammies were out of kilter were four times more likely to suffer hamstring injuries.

The caveat though is getting the technique right, because if it’s off, the strength move can be one of the most common culprits of lifting-induced lower back injuries.

“I love the exercise, I believe in the exercise,” personal trainer Mike Reinold told Men’s Health. “But your body has to be able to get in the positions to use good form—and then you actually have to use good form—or else the deadlift can easily injure you.”

If you can own those two skills, the exercise will help you.

How to perform a kettlebell deadlift

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

fitness | body+soul