deadlifts, stiff legged or slightly bent?

[thatdguy]

When I do deadlifts, I usually keep my knees bent a tiny bit - but behind my right knee cap, I get these slight pains.. kinda like an over-stretch or tendon/lig problem.. whatever it is..

anyone have any input on this topic?

 

[PJT]

This happens only when you do Deadz? Can you squat/work your legs without this pain? When I do deadlifts I prefer to bend my knees on the way down and straighten them as I go up.

 

[BiggerStronger]

Try stretching more...it's probably just a flexability issue.

 

[flexon]

I bend my knees a bit when doing stiff leg deads also, no pain here. Haven't done them in a while though, gotta get my shit together. I would suggest stretching a lot before doing legs because of the weight used.

 

[saudades]

You should never lock out your knees when doing any type of deadlift. For stiff-legged deads, you should have your knees slightly bent, and yes, there will be some stretching there. Because of that, you don't want to go too heavy too fast on stiff-legged deads. It takes time to build up the weight on that exercise. The kind of deadlift that PJT is referring to (probably the Romanian or Bulgarian deadlift) is a different type than the type you seem to be doing. You may want to try that kind of deadlift instead.

 

[dorian123]

dude don't even bother with the stiff-legged deadlifts
the risks outweigh the benefit

 

[Presser]

stiff are great, if your having pain in one side and not the other as mentioned bro, it may be a slight alignment problem in your posture and i would suggest trying the stiffs with dumbells in that case and then see how it feels compared to barbell straights, i also believe stiffs are a staple exercise not to be over looked in your training, but as dorian said and i only agree with the risk issue becuase ur already experiencing pain, then i would say stick with the other movements that dont hurt if their isnt any pain in those movements, but in a healthy person i dont (personaly) think the risk out wieghs the benefit in a generraly healthy person when it comes to stiffs

 

[dreww]

yea, I agree with press. The Stiff leg DL is one of the difficult exercises cause form is everything.

The stiff leg DL is one of those exercises I still haven't mastered after years. im always adjusting my form so I can get that good pull in the hamstrings. This exercise just takes good mind-muscle connection, which can take awhile to get.