[quote]fatcat wrote:
bushido-- why are you concerned with thoracic spine rounding with deads? lots of big deadlifter’s I’ve seen don’t keep their upper back super tight. I find it impossible to do with heavy weights from the floor. you are much more knowledgable than I am regarding exercise mechanics but I feel as long as the lower back is kept tight and arched things are ok.
routine.[/quote]
the upper back being rounded is proper technique for heavy deads. It shortens the ROM leading to a bigger pull.
It’s pretty hard not to if your pulling 405+
[quote]bushidobadboy wrote:
fatcat wrote:
bushido-- why are you concerned with thoracic spine rounding with deads? lots of big deadlifter’s I’ve seen don’t keep their upper back super tight. I find it impossible to do with heavy weights from the floor. you are much more knowledgable than I am regarding exercise mechanics but I feel as long as the lower back is kept tight and arched things are ok.
.
I know they do, but I find that unless I stay super tight all the way up my spine, I don’t feel ‘safe’ doing deads. And since I’m only in it to look good (and have a modest amount of strength), I can’t justify the risk Vs the reward of doing super heavy deads with poor form, just so I can say to myself that I’ve done them.
BBB[/quote]
"
Style Issue #2: Round the upper back or don?t round the upper back? The lower back is the biggest concern first and foremost. There must be an arch, and you must know how to use your abs to brace your low back to maintain that arch. Some people have more of an arch than others. That?s not the point though. The point is that the arch must be tight (for that person), and the abs must brace the lower back by pushing the diaphragm down.
Rounding the upper back is an advantage for lifters who know how to use it because it shortens the stroke of the lift (it feels almost natural for those with a thoracic spine curve).
To maximize this technique, just sink your ribs and round the shoulders forward when you grab the bar on the floor (being sure to keep a tight arch in the lower back). If you compete in powerlifting and pull with an upper back curve and feel comfortable with it, don?t change it. You will tend to pull in a meet the way that you practice.
If you have ever seen Konstantin pull any of his 900 plus lbs deadlifts, you?ll see how exaggerated an upper back curve can be. He is also a master of the rib sink/shoulder rolled forward technique that I just described. Take a look! http://www.gometal.com/videot/konstantin_deadlift_430.wmv "
http://www.elitefts.com/documents/deadlift_with_style.htm