I’m trying to incorporate deadlifts into my lifting. My gym has a small platform (maybe 3-5 inches high) that you can stand on to get greater range of motion. I’m 6’2", should I try to learn to deadlift with the extra range of motion or just lift the bar from the ground. I’m using light weight, 135, to learn form.
Too many people don’t realize how important technique is to the deadlift. It’s good to hear that you are spending time working technique first before trying to pull heavy weight. You state that you are 6’2". Deadlifting is one of the equalizers on the lifting platform for taller lifters, as the leverages are better than the squat and bench press. One factor that is realtive to height is where does your height come from. If you are long in the torso and arms, that is good for pulling from the floor. If your height comes from long legs and a short torso, that can make pulling harder.
I wouldn’t pull from a raised platform until you spent some time just pulling from the floor. Even then I would start with only 1 or 2 inch platform to SLOWLY increase a range of motion. Have someone that knows what a good deadlift is supposed to look like watch you. If there is a limited range of motion pulling from the floor, you may have to do the exact opposite and pull from pins in a rack or with the plates raised up a few inches for a few weeks.
Bottom line is have someone watch your technique that really knows what they are doing.
I would suggest reading this three part series of articles to make sure you have perfect form before trying anything besides a standard deadlift:
http://www.T-Nation.com/readArticle.do?id=1607555
Deadlifts are an awesome exercise but only after you are positive you have perfect from. You also may want to upload a video of your form to get some feedback if you can’t find someone locally you would trust to know what they are doing.
P