Why the deadlift is dangerous--a critique of Andy Galpin's position

The Kevin Bass Show

In this episode, I explain why @drandygalpin's defense of the deadlift is actually a clear demonstration that it is a dangerous lift.

Specifically, he notes at least four conditions that must be met for the deadlift to be safe: appropriate positioning, volume, intensity, and complexity.

I note that it is difficult to meet those conditions consistently in the long-term while still progressing on the lift. More importantly, it is very difficult to know how to meet those conditions while still training hard enough to make progress: how much training is enough, and how much training is too much?

This becomes even more complex and difficult when adding outside stressors and other, often unpredictable training volume in the activities of athletes.

Doing this consistently weekly over the course of decades without making an error becomes even more difficult.

Additionally, I note how much training is too much may be individual, but more importantly, that the four conditions that Andy lays out are actually not the only conditions mentioned by many experts: there is a controversy in this area because the evidence about what causes injury from the deadlift is sparse.

This makes it even less clear whether safety can be ensured by controlling the variables that Andy mentions.

I draw an analogy with a gun—a gun is inherently dangerous but can be made safe with the proper stewardship. I point out that what proper stewardship for a deadlift is, is quite unclear.

Andy says that if someone gets injured from the deadlift, it is their or their coach’s fault. I note that most people do not have the knowledge that Andy has, nor a coach like Andy, and that even if he was right, in the real world many laypeople are ill-equipped to manage training in the way that Andy outlines.

I make the pragmatic argument: why not simply use less dangerous lifts that can produce the same benefit, without needing to manage half a dozen variables to avoid injury? The necessity of managing so many variables to avoid injury does not exonerate the deadlift: it clearly demonstrates its inherent danger.

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