Deadlifts and squats - different muscles? page

[rockstareddy]

Hey

Can someone actually identify the differences in muscles trained between the two exercises?

Would appreciate it thanks

[yodiewan]

When done in a conventional way, deadlifts target your glutes and squats focus more on the quadriceps, although both exercises work both groups of muscles pretty well:

http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...s/BBSquat.html
http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...BDeadlift.html

I do both exercises once a week on different days (currently following 5/3/1)

[Al_Kavadlo]

Yeah like yodiewan says, they are pretty similar but squats put more emphasis on the quads, deads more on the glutes and hammys. Also, deadlifts build grip strength, especially as you get into heavier weights.

I actually wrote a blog post a little while back about squats and deadlifts: http://www.alkavadlo.com/2009/11/squats-and-deadlifts/

[The M]

Ooh mee meeeeeeeeee! Pick meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Sorry, I get excited when I hear "deadlift" since it's my personal favorite.

If you read a lot about deadlifts, you'll hear a lot about "rear chain activation" or "posterior chain activation" or the like. This is fancy speak for "works so many muscles on the back half of your body that we're going to make up a special word for it." Deadlifts, when performed properly, involve a ton of hamstring and back activation. You can feel them from your arches all the way up to your neck; they're great for your core muscles (both backand abs.) They're also kind of hard to do right, as you have to activate the right muscles, in the right order, to get them down properly. Properly done, although you use your quads, they don't put strain on the knees as compared squats (I have an evil case of runners knee right now and can't squat past 60 degrees but can deadlift beautifully... I should probably mention that as weird as this is, I do all of my lifts in a mirror so I can watch my form).

Here's my favorite primer:
http://www.dieselcrew.com/how-to-dea...ng-techniques/

As for squats, you will definitely feel it a lot more in your lower body. There are about a billion ways to do a squat (okay like ten) so here is a primer that might help.
http://www.illpumpyouup.com/articles...-squatting.htm

[rockstareddy]

Cheers guys appreciate your help. Great links.

Im alternating mine, but my small gym doesn't have a squat rack and Im getting to the point where I cant safely lift the squatting weight over my head so was wondering if I could focus on dead lifts for the heavy leg work.

Might have to find a way round it in the long run, will have a detailed read of that article in particular M , I also like the idea that squats is good for hepling to rip your abs...

[Bushrat]

Cheers guys appreciate your help. Great links.

Im alternating mine, but my small gym doesn't have a squat rack and Im getting to the point where I cant safely lift the squatting weight over my head so was wondering if I could focus on dead lifts for the heavy leg work.

Might have to find a way round it in the long run, will have a detailed read of that article in particular M , I also like the idea that squats is good for hepling to rip your abs...

Do you squat ass to ground? If not then start immediately with a very light weight and that'll hold off your problem for a little while.

[rockstareddy]

No not all the way down, I go pretty far but have been warned alot about going beyong 90degree bend at the knee, i.e. thighs paralelle with floor. Thanks though I'll bear it in mind!

[Al_Kavadlo]

If squats are getting too easy and you can't safely add more weight, you might try working on one legged squats: http://www.alkavadlo.com/2009/10/doi...-pistol-squat/

[rockstareddy]

If squats are getting too easy and you can't safely add more weight, you might try working on one legged squats: http://www.alkavadlo.com/2009/10/doi...-pistol-squat/

that is an awesome idea! thankyou soo much will work toward mixin a few of those in

[Fury22]

No not all the way down, I go pretty far but have been warned alot about going beyong 90degree bend at the knee, i.e. thighs paralelle with floor. Thanks though I'll bear it in mind!

Anyone who says that squatting past parallel is bad for your kness is an idiot. Squatting low (past parallel) is better for your knees than squatting to and above parallel, assuming that you are doing it correctly.

Most people have spent their lives seated (myself included) and have trained themselves against their natural ability to squat down. Most people have lost their flexibility and are no longer able to squat low without rounding their lower back, shifting the weight to their toes (very bad for your knees) or falling forward.

The best thing you can do is learn to squat as low as possible correctly.

And yes, your knees can go past your toes as long as you are squatting correctly.