Knowing is the deadlift is a back exercise will help you plan what day to train it. If you ask a bodybuilder, they might deadlift on a back day. If you ask a powerlifter, they might deadlift on a leg day.
So should you deadlift on back or leg day? Deadlifts can be put on either the back day or the leg day. Deadlifts are primarily a leg exercise since they recruit the leg muscles, the quads, hamstrings, and glutes. But the back muscles are heavily active during deadlifts too.
In this article, we will be going through what considerations you should make in deciding where to put deadlifts in your training and how to change the exercise to target your back or your leg muscles more.
Should You Deadlift On Back or Leg Day?
You could deadlift on either leg or back day, and many popular programs will cycle it between those two days accordingly. However, the conventional deadlift should be on a leg day since most of the joint actions happen at the hips and knees.
However, you can change the deadlift variation to change the muscle recruitment dramatically. So depending on what version of the deadlift you are doing, you may want to consider putting it on your leg or back day.
While many choose to train back and legs are different training days, it is also possible to train back and legs on the same day.
Check out this article to consider the benefits of combining back and legs in the same workout session.
Is Deadlift A Back Exercise?
The deadlift is primarily a leg exercise. The glutes and hamstrings are involved in hip extension, quadriceps aid in knee extension, and the core muscles provide stability to the spine. The act of gripping the bar also calls upon the forearm muscles.
But the deadlift is a compound movement, meaning it engages multiple muscle groups simultaneously, including the back.
The deadlift also engages several muscles in the back region. Notably, it activates the erector spinae that runs along the spine, the Latissimus Dorsi on the sides of the back, and the upper back's trapezius and rhomboids. These muscles work together to extend, stabilize, and maintain the spinal and shoulder positions during the lift.
Given its comprehensive muscle engagement, the deadlift is one of the most effective total-body exercises. However, it's essential to prioritize proper form to ensure back safety and achieve optimal muscle activation throughout the movement.
Let's dive further into the muscle groups you'll be working so you can train the deadlift appropriately.
Deadlifting Muscle Groups Explained: Legs vs Back
A common question many have is whether they should do deadlifts for back or legs, and if it trains certain muscles more than others. We should first understand how the body is moving during the deadlift to use deadlifts properly to train the targeted muscles.
The following joint actions occur in the deadlift:
- Knee Extension (straightening of the knees)
- Hip Extension (straightening or thrusting through the hips)
- Shoulder Extension (bringing the arms backward from the front)
Knee and hip extension are the primary movements during the deadlift, and shoulder extension is mild.
The knee and hip movement during the deadlift makes it primarily a leg or lower body exercise, but we will go through what muscles are being used (including back muscles) and how they are being used.
Quadriceps
These muscles are on the front of the thigh and are responsible for straightening your knee during the deadlift. Leg exercises that require knee flexion and extension are great for developing the quadriceps.
The quads are primarily used to drive the barbell off the floor, especially at the start of the movement. If you fail at the bottom end of the deadlift, it’s likely because you have weak quads.
Hamstrings
These muscles are on the back of the thigh and contribute to extending your hips, but they are not the primary hip extensor.
In other words, they sometimes help extend the hips in the lock-out portion of the deadlift, but there are probably better exercises to train the hamstrings directly. Different variations of the deadlift can emphasize the hamstrings more than others.
Gluteus Maximus
The gluteus maximus is the main glute muscle (it’s the muscle we sit on). It’s one of the largest muscles in the body and contributes to extending the hip during the deadlift.
They help you thrust your hips through at the top. If you fail in the lockout of the deadlift, it’s probably because you have weak glutes.
Spinal Erectors
The spinal erectors or erector spinae are the strip of back muscle that runs along the side of your spine from your neck to your tailbone.
These muscles contract isometrically, i.e., they contract but do not change muscle length during the deadlift.
They help maintain the posture of your spine, i.e., help prevent your back from rounding in the deadlift.
Latissimus Dorsi
The latissimus dorsi, or lats, connect from the side of your spine to the back of your upper arm.
These muscles do two things in the deadlift: (1) they help keep your spine extended, and (2) they bring your arms closer to your body.
In other words, they help keep the barbell on your body (good for maintaining the optimal bar path) and prevent upper back rounding.
Traps
The traps help to keep the shoulders in proper position during the deadlift. They, along with other muscles, help to lock the shoulder blades in place.
Many people forget that the traps run from the base of your skull to the middle of your back.
Many seasoned powerlifters and strongmen often credit deadlifts and carry as the main contributors to their highly developed trap muscles.
Considering the muscles involved, we can begin to put the common debate of “are deadlifts a back exercise or leg exercise?” to rest. While involving back muscles, the deadlift primarily trains the quads, glutes, and hamstrings.
If you’d like to learn more about the Muscles Used In the Deadlift, then check out my full guide.
Want to get advice on programming, technique, or competing? Speak with one of our coaches.
Leg-Focused Deadlift Variations
If you are planning any of the following deadlift variations, I would put them on leg day:
- Sumo deadlifts
- Deficit deadlifts
- Trap bar deadlifts
Sumo Deadlifts
The sumo deadlift is a popular variation among powerlifters, and it is performed with the legs outside of the arms. The position that the sumo deadlift stance puts you in means you are more upright than a conventional deadlift. Research has shown that the sumo deadlift has a higher demand on the quads and adductors and less of a demand on the lower back muscles.
Check out my other sumo deadlift resources:
- Conventional vs Sumo Deadlift: Which One Should You Do?
- How Wide Should You Sumo Deadlift?
- Does Doing Sumo Deadlift Help With Conventional Deadlifts?
- Semi-Sumo Deadlift: Should You Do It?
- Sumo Deadlift vs Back Squat: Differences, Pros, Cons
- Best Deadlift Shoes For Sumo
Deficit Deadlifts
The deficit deadlift is when you perform deadlifts while standing on a foot elevation. This subsequently increases the range of motion through the hips and the knees, therefore putting more demand on the quads, hamstrings, and glutes. The range of motion becomes closer to that of a squat.
Check out our article to find out more Benefits Of Deficit Deadlifts.
Trap Bar Deadlifts
A trap bar deadlift utilizes a special type of bar shaped like a hexagon. The advantage of the trap bar deadlift is that it allows you to put your knees and hips more forward. This puts your back in a more upright position, which puts less demand on your back and more on your quads as your knee joint range of motion increases.
The trap bar deadlift is a great option for those that are not competitive powerlifters, as the technique is easier to learn.
Back-Focused Deadlift Variations
If you are planning any of the following deadlift variations, I would put them on back day:
- Snatch grip deadlifts
- Stiff leg deadlifts
Snatch Grip Deadlifts
The snatch grip deadlift has been popularized by Olympic weightlifters. It is similar to the conventional deadlift, but the snatch grip means that you hold the bar at a wider grip. This puts you in a slightly more bent-over position and emphasizes your upper, mid, and lower back muscles.
Read our comprehensive guide here on Snatch Grip Deadlifts.
Stiff Legged Deadlifts
The stiff legged deadlift is similar to the conventional deadlift but the hips start at a higher position to a point where your back is at or nearly parallel with the floor. Your knees are straighter than a conventional deadlift. This places less demand on the quads, and more demand on your glutes, hamstrings, and back muscles.
While deadlifting can be a great back exercise, it is not the only thing you should do to improve your back size and strength. Find out why in this article: Can You Just Do Deadlifts for Back?
Sample Workout Program For Deadlifts
Workout Example: Deadlifting On Leg Day
- Warm Up
- Sumo Deadlift: 3 sets 8 reps
- Trap Bar Deadlift: 3 sets 10 reps
- Hamstring Curls: 4 sets 12 reps
- Leg Extension or leg extension alternative: 4 sets 12 reps
Workout Example: Deadlifting On Back Day
- Warm Up
- Snatch Grip Deadlift: 3 sets 8 reps
- Stiff Legged Deadlift: 3 sets10 reps
- Lat Pulldown: 4 sets 10 reps
- Dumbbell Rows: 4 sets 15 reps
Read more: Do Deadlifts Work Lats?
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Deadlifts Build Legs?
Yes, deadlifts do build legs since it requires extension of the hips and the knees. Your quads, hamstrings, and glutes go through a concentric and eccentric contraction throughout the exercise, meaning they shorten and lengthen. This puts a huge stimulus on your muscles to grow.
Related Article: Deadlift Day After Squats: Should You Do It?
Are You Supposed To Use Your Back In Deadlifts?
Your lower back is only used to a certain amount to maintain a neutral spine or a flat posture. You should not be misusing your back by overemphasizing extension of your back at the top, even if you are doing deadlifts on back days. The reason why is because it puts too much pressure on your joints and makes your back and hip area very unstable. You will inadvertently increase your risk of injury.
Are You Supposed To Feel Deadlifts In Your Back?
Feeling some lower back soreness is not bad, but it should not be the sorest muscle group since your quads, glutes, and hamstrings do most of the work. Many of your back muscles isometrically contract during deadlifts. So, it would also be acceptable to feel some soreness in your lats and traps as well.
Should My Hamstrings Feel Sore After Deadlifts?
Deadlifting is a great exercise to train the hamstrings. Hamstring soreness is a very normal occurrence after deadlifting and can happen for different reasons.
For more information, read our article about whether hamstring soreness after deadlifts is acceptable.
Should You Deadlift First on Leg Day?
Yes, you should deadlift first on leg days. Deadlift should likely be the first or second movement on a training day. On a dedicated deadlift day, you would deadlift first before a deadlift variation or squatting movement. You could also train the squat first, followed by the deadlift.
In determining whether we put deadlifts on leg or back day, we also need to understand Is The Deadlift A Push Or Pull? Check out our other article to learn more.
Conclusion
The deadlift is a compound exercise working back muscles and leg muscles. Let's answer is deadlift a back exercise? Should you deadlift on back or leg day? There are several things to consider.
Putting deadlifts on a back day may mean spreading leg training over more days in a week. Putting deadlifts on a leg day may mean spreading back training over more days in a week.
Personal preference should guide your decision on when to deadlift. There are no reasons why you cannot do a deadlift variation more than once a week. To be smarter with doing deadlifts twice or more a week, it would be useful to use different variations to change where the emphasis is on muscle wise.
Check out this article to find out what else you can do on your deadlift day.
About The Author: Norman Cheung ASCC, British Powerlifting Team Coach
Norman Cheung is a powerlifting coach and an accredited strength and conditioning coach under the UKSCA. He has been coaching powerlifting since 2012 and has been an IPF Team GB coach since 2016. He has experience with coaching a variety of lifters from novices to international medallists and international university teams. Along side coaching, he takes interest in helping powerlifters take their first step into coaching. He currently runs his coaching services at strongambitionscoaching.com
