Lower Back Pain After Doing Deadlifts? Here's 3 Solutions

Michelle Hopkins

If you're just getting started doing the heavy weightlifting at the gym, then you are most likely doing deadlifts. These lifts, along with squats and bench presses, are considered vital for muscle growth. However, they also pose a problem for many people. It's not uncommon to have muscle aches in your lower back after a session of deadlifts. That's not a situation that is conductive to further exercise, and it's also not something you should ignore. Here are three solutions to deal with it.

Practice Proper Form: Get A Spot Check

The first thing you need to find out is if you are practicing proper form. There are two ways you can do this. If you workout in a gym, you are going to want to speak with a personal trainer. Have them analyze your lift. There are lots of ways you can lift improperly and these can cause injury and pain. For example, a too rounded back or a back that is too arched can both be detrimental. Often, you can't see how you lift, so you need someone else to look for you.

If you don't work out out at a gym, and instead work out at home, and don't have lifting partners nearby to come by and check in person, then you can film a video of yourself and upload it to YouTube. Then, you can find weightlifting forums online and post a link to the video and ask for a "spot check".

Foam Roller Massage

If it turns out your lift is correct, then it might be that your muscles are just sore, and you need to massage them a bit. If it's not severe pain, and more of a tightness that is uncomfortable, then you should invest in a foam roller. These can be laid down on the floor, and you lay on them and roll your back over them. Pick one of the foam rollers for bodybuilders that have knobs that extend off the roller and will really dig into your lat muscles.

Physical Therapy From A Sports Injury Professional

If the pain is severe, then you need to skip the foam roller and head right to a professional who handles sports injuries. It might be a muscle, but it also might be that you are dealing with a herniated disc. You need to immediately cease lifting weight and make sure that you do no further damage to your lower back.

A physical therapist will be able to assess if it's a spinal issue or a muscle strain. In either case, they will be able to diagnose and treat the problem and get you back into the gym.


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