Do you not feel your legs working when performing your heaviest or most intense deadlift sets?
Is it all in your back? What does this really mean?
If deadlifts only feel like they are in your back and not your legs, that usually comes down to how the movement is being driven.
A strong hip hinge pattern can shift the load towards your spinal erectors (low back area), especially if your hips rise early or your quads are not contributing much off the floor.
This pattern could be the result of just a habit, and/or body proportions.
For example, if your arm span is short, relative to your height, or if you have short shins relative to femur length, you may find that your hips rise early or that you’re not able to be as upright as others you’ve seen doing the deadlift.
As a result, your back becomes the primary “feeling” muscle even though your legs are still working.
The sensation that your deadlift workout only hits the back can also happen when posterior chain strength outpaces quad contribution.
In this case, your body naturally relies more on the back to move the load.
But make no mistake now, your legs ARE working — always — with the deadlift.
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