One explanation I’ve seen for this is that during or after the lifting, you experience a rapid drop in blood pressure, as a result of the heavy exertion. I’m not sure if it is the result of blood pressure spiking during valsalva and then dropping too fast afterward, or if it is actually something a little more complex physiologically. Google the term vasovagal syncope and lifting for more discussion.
this is exactly of my issue, and I have been using the Valsalva technique to combat it. Valsalva is used specifically to mitigate the rapid drop in blood pressure, It reduces the drop but unfortunately not enough in my case. Trying to see if its’ just me being a wimp and everyone feels like this or if theres’ something more to it.
People do pass out when performing lifts… I’ve seen plenty of YouTube videos of dead lifters dropping, and a few of world class olympics athletes blacking out doing the clean and jerk. If you are about to black out, I doubt you can write that off as a lack of fortitude. As to why you might be more susceptible, that probably requires a deeper dive by a doctor with some knowledge in this area.
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it honestly wouldn’t surprise me if its’ just “normal” but maybe im just underwhelmed that i got to peak out at 5 plates on deadlifts before I pass out lol. I asked my Dr for a blood test so hopefully i can get some more insight into this - it might simply be a lack of water or that im too fat currently. Guess i’ll find out soon enough
Some people (often older) can pass out from just standing up too quickly. So to get a little lightheaded at the end of a 5 plate deadlift isn’t extreme sensitivity. I’ll post a link to a web site which advises that improper breathing can cause it, or make it worse.
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When I was at the Mr. Olympia in Orlando, they had a strongman competition…a couple of the competitors came real close to passing out after a deadlift…so, you are not a wimp, lol
I get that to a lesser extent than I had been.
Holding a little pressure in a little longer helps. So, instead of relaxing the abdominal column and whooshing out the breath, it’s more like pushing the breath out through pursed lips over a few seconds.
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solid link - i’ll adjust a bit next go-round and see how it goes
Are you aware that a valsalva will create tremendous IAP to support your squat deadlift but will spike your systolic blood pressure to over 300mmHg?
The extreme rise in blood pressure, followed by a sudden drop when you finish the set, will cause you to be light-headed.
I’d your light-headnedness is that much of an issue, I would actually recommend bracing slightly less. However, bracing less will limit your outputs.
That is actually partially the intention of it. Performing a heavy deadlift is likely to do the same to BP except that it is no longer under your control vs using valsalva where you can moderate the BP drop to an extent
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I hope this doesn’t sound harsh, but I don’t really understand what you’re saying. Deadlifting will increase your blood pressure automatically. Deadlifting with a valsalva move will increase blood pressure even more.
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I come here for the honesty, I’m stubborn and need to hear it. I hadn’t read anything stating what you’re saying, so I haven’t considered that the two would combine to double-fuck my BP. I’ll try going easier on the valsalva to test it
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It’s not the increase in blood pressure during the valsava maneuver that’s giving you lightheadedness. It’s actually the complete opposite. When you breathe out after all that bracing, you’re experiencing a sudden and severe drop in blood pressure. That drop is what causes light-headedness and sometimes a loss of consciousness. Hypotension, not hypertension.
It’s still the valsava maneuver that’s causing your problems, though.
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Strange, considering Valsava was staged as the resolution to my light-headedness upon my initial research. Still, I’ll give it a go and report back with results
That’s a significant lift. Nothing to be bummed about.
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@SkyzykS @average_al @mnben87 @flappinit @T3hPwnisher @fitafter40 @j4gga2
Hit legs today and tested the recommendations on here. Results as follows for squats:
-Letting out a short puff at full concentric (bottom) with Valsava made me lose too much stability, though I suspect this might still work well during deadlifts.
-Abandoning Valsava altogether was an immediate no-go. Too unstable.
-Going easier on Valsava helped a LOT for light headedness during the set, still struggled a bit recovering after the set.
-Forcing myself to take at least 3 mins rest between sets 
(why wasn’t I doing this sooner?? I’m so impatient I was unwittingly rushing my rest periods. I guess I’m into self punishment)
-Going easier on Valsava AND slowly letting out breath after each rep AND forcing longer rest periods:ok_hand:
Huge thanks to everyone in this thread, you all helped me put up 5x5 @ 315 far easier than ever before (I need to increase weight to at least 365 next time). Gains were made, and will continue to be made, due to your help.
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I think bottom would be full eccentric, and this would be the absolute worst place to let air out, in terms of injury risk.
This is the key. Imagine a graph, with a line going up to a peak, and then dropping down into a valley. The peak is your highest blood pressure, the valley is your lowest blood pressure. Right now, you’re getting a super high peak due to the intense VM, and then a quick, near-vertical drop to a low valley, due to letting your breath out quickly. What you’re doing by going easier on the VM and slowly letting out a breath, is that you’re making the peak less high, and then instead of the vertical drop on the line, you’re making more of a diagonal, steady drop by slowly letting your breath out.
TL;DR, don’t build yourself up like a pressure cooker and suddenly pop the lid, and you’ll be alright.
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Glad you found some things that work!
I dislocated my spine like that doing speed work.
Little puff at the bottom by accident, blasted off, and pretty much used my legs to pop my spine right out at the L4-L5.
Very painful. Would not recommend.
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3 minutes minimum on the big lifts imo. Long term progress on those builds a lot of size.
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Honestly I assumed I was already taking that long considering how long it felt to recover. Turns out my internal clock is fucked 