Thoracolumbar And Lumbopelvic Spinal Alignment During The Deadlift Exercise: A Comparison Between Men And Women.
Victor Bengtsson, Ulrika Aasa, Fredrik Öhberg and 1 others
PMID 36237649WHAT IT FOUND
Competitive lifters did not keep a neutral spine during deadlifts.
Both men and women flexed their lower back at the start, with men flexing significantly more than women. Spinal alignment shifted throughout the lift, challenging the idea that a fixed neutral position is achievable or necessary.
Key findings
01Men showed a significantly greater decrease in lumbar lordosis from standing to the deadlift start position compared to women.
02There were no statistically significant differences in upper lumbar spine alignment between men and women during the deadlift.
03All participants changed their spinal alignment from standing to the start position and continued to adjust during the lift, rather than maintaining a fixed neutral posture.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study used a relatively light load (70% 1RM), so findings may not apply to maximal attempts. IMUs were placed on the skin, so measurements may not reflect exact skeletal alignment due to soft tissue movement. Participants were experienced lifters, so results may not generalize to novices. The study did not measure injury outcomes, so it cannot link these movement patterns to pain or injury risk. Men and women differed in training experience and strength levels, which may have influenced the observed sex differences.
Declared interests
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The study was approved by the Regional Ethical Review Board of Umeå, Sweden.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the observed spinal flexion as evidence that deadlifts are inherently dangerous or that a neutral spine is impossible to achieve in all contexts. The study used sub-maximal loads and measured alignment, not injury. Flexion occurred, but the clinical significance of this movement pattern for pain or injury remains unknown.