If squats or deadlifts are pre-disposing you to further injury and time away from regular physical exercise, they should defs be reconsidered. Thanks for the advice!
@Chris Johnson dude I dumped squats and deads after injuring my back on a bad squat. I now do Bulgarian split squats, RDLs, hammy curls, leg extensions, lunges and shrugs. Better gains as well
I am 33 and one of my discs in my back is thin. It’s sad bc I always enjoyed deadlifting a lot and squatting some. Now I can’t do either and that’s what brought me here. Some of us do and did, now we cant or we will snap some shit up.
Interesting concept. For those that are hating on this video, he makes solid points. He's not saying there is NO benefits to these exercises but for the average person looking to shed some pounds and add some muscle mass, it's not (say it with me now) necessary. What's so hard to understand about that? Also, I'm 6'2", I wrestled during and after high school and did martial arts, maybe did this exercise once a year if that, and I had great results.
Dorian Yates didn't squat for the majority of his career. Partially due to hip flexor injury, but his legs were phenomenal. There are many ways to skin a cat. That said, I squat and deadlift, and like many others, I do feel a benefit. So ya I agree with you.
@@johnkelleher1877 just for me personally, I didn't really like how squats tightened up my lower back so much, especially since I had to be rather flexible to pull off certain techniques in wrestling. And when my back was too stiff, I generally noticed that I did not perform as well on the mat. Not to say that I didn't do strength training for my back, but that work out in general seemed to be too much for what I needed out of my fitness goals, particular to wrestling. I would probably be more inclined to do squats these days since I don't really need to worry about how I perform in wrestling anymore.
For those of us with knee and lower back injuries, it doesn't matter how perfect our form is when doing squats and deadlifts. It's a matter of mass and how much force the joints can take before they deform. It's simple physics. So, I either use very light weights with squats and deadlifts or simply do something else.
@@tomg5405 exercises that don't compress the spine. Bulgarian split squats, dumbbell lunges, reverse dumbbell lunges, romanians, lying leg curls and leg extensions
Just look to what happens down the road. I was an advocate for squats and deadlifts until I blew out my neck and lower back. Fused C4 thru C7 and 2 surgeries on L2 thru L5 S1. I've found many exercises that I can work my legs and not put all that weight on my spine. Looking back for what I'm going for I would definitely rethink my work out in my younger years. I still workout 5 days per week and I still look pretty damn good. I'm just saying be careful with these, is it really worth the aggravation down the road. We all get older
@@mafujame1 use the machines, they have machines you can put alot of weight on but not put pressure on your spine. If it hurts me, I stop using it. You can still get in good workouts and not hurt yourself. Your spine is nothing to mess around with. Fighting thru the pain is not an option with it. I do the elliptical everyday. I turn it up as high as I can go and go as fast as I can. I've been doing it for almost 14 years now. Don't knock it until you try it. It took almost a year at a way lower resistance before my legs didn't burn. I try getting others to do it stufg With me, but they don't last 10mins. The burn will stop, just takes awhile
I'm sorry to hear what you've gone through man! Sounds terrible... 😔 I tell people I don't squat or deadlift because I just lift to look good not for performance
Me too, I am 33 and I squatted and deadlifted with perfect form. Turns out one of my discs in my spine is thin. It causes too much pain after deadlifting and I have trouble picking up my toddler. I had to give up on deadlifts and squats. I do feel I would of been better off never doing them bc they definitely exasperated the problem. The not so funny thing is older ppl in the gym warned me to stop doing them in my twenties. They said they had back problems but I assumed it was their bad form. I should of actually listened to the warning.
I used to DL and squat for years. I stopped, call it old age. Substitute with leg press, lunges, Bulgarian split etc. There is no visible muscle decrease or strength for that matter. I have never gained much from squatting in the first place. But hats off to those who are passionate about it!
So your body looks just as good without squatting? I'm thinking of quitting them too, too much strain on the spine and there's alternative exercises I could do instead like you said.
I've always felt like my lower back is a limiting factor when doing back squats and deadlifts. My legs are always more sore after doing reverse lunges instead.
Amen. And the statement that each movement or exercise is another tool in the toolbox is the absolute truth! Exercise helps us reach goals after goals are made /remade, and they are tools to do that. Lots of respect on this video!!
Personally, as a personal trainer and someone who does bodybuilding, I avoid deadlifts for 2 reasons: 1- My posterior chain in general (especially my back) is very strong and well developed, so I don't feel the need to incorporate deadlifts into my routine. And... 2- I think the deadlift (even with excellent form) is a risky movement, at least compared to other exercises. I don't wanna risk injuring my lower back when I have no need to do deadlifts in the first place. Squats on the other hand, by far the best exercise for legs, it's a must for almost anyone looking to build strength or muscle. Sure, you can work around them and do leg press, leg extensions, hamstring curls, lunges,...but you'd be better off incorporating squats in your routine as your main leg exercise (unless you have a knee injury or something that stops you from doing squats).
Why is a squat even inherently less dangerous than a deadlift? Nothing to suggest that either of these movements are dangerous unless you have health issues or overuse injuries
Had a herniated disk due to a injury in the gym,recovered pretty fast,thank God...i will swap the squats with lunges,hip belt squat and good mornings..It takes a fracture of second to snap your spine,it's such a risk that will keep you off the gym for a prolonged period of time(it depends how bad is the injury)..these 3 exercices will build the legs maximally,with minimal stress on the spine and will get your squat number up,without practicing it! Be carefull guys,you don't want a herniated disc, the pain is extremely horrible...
Don't your knees hurt from loading the leg press with 32 plates? I'd say re-racking them would probably be the biggest workout but we all know you just leave them on the press and wait for someone else to re-rack them before they can use it themselves.
You shouldn’t just stop squatting though , address the problem so that you can continue , is a basic human movement that we learn from toddler age it’s fundamental to overall health and ability
I dont deadlift or squat too often. I think it's best to test your lift or periodize them in. I mainly do nordic curls or hamstring curls and leg extensions or barbell hack squats. My legs now are growing better than they ever did when I was doing basic heavy back squats. I can focus on getting my overhead press up or adding another 60lbs to my handstand pushups rather than my CNS making me feel like crap
I started doing deadlifts yesterday and I walked away from it after 2 sets of 10 because I didn't feel it useful so I came here to see if it's something that I really need.
Screwed on both. I was pancaked by a truck and now disabled due to spine injury. That said, I’ve just cycled 11kms from the UK to Thailand for a children’s charity, but I can’t swuat so leg press and machines are my only options. I miss squats, but still feel modern machines will help build my legs, but maybe not like dead’s or squats?
I love to squat and deadlift, but my lower back has disk issues. Now in my 50s, I can't do either anymore. It sucks, but barbell step back lunges, walking dumbbell lunges, and high rep leg presses still get my legs nice and sore.
I prefer to deadlift even though it’s “more taxing” I’ve blown my knee out twice in my life and I shit a brick anytime I wanna squat so I’ve started doing leg press
@@Foley58 It's hard for me to get to the gym, because it's a long walk! But once in a while, a friend invites me to go with him to the gym. When he does this, I always do some deadlifts. I don't especially enjoy them, but I think deadlifts are the best exercise. When I was younger my leg workout revolved around the squat machine, and I was eventually able to do over 1200, full ROM, for multiple reps.. I think that is when my legs were in their best shape. I do add both Deadlifts and Squats when I am able to commit to a workout plan. Right now I just do mostly bodyweight from home, then I might go to the gym and do exercises for body parts that are hard to target from home.
I just want to build muscle and look good. I don't squat often and I've never deadlifted. I've been working out since July and made some progress. I'd rather not deadlift or squat just to avoid the possibility of injury. I do the bench press because it isn't as dangerous.
Silent Mike is saying that for MOST of us there are other ways to reach your goals besides squats and dead lifts. I love squats but my neurologist, orthopedic surgeon and physical therapist are not big fans of ME doing them. I still do them sometimes with low weight and high reps (don't tell) but I have expanded my list of options so I can still make progress without them. They are not fans of my leg press obsession either (I usually go very heavy on it) so I am learning to use other ways to get similar results. Squats and dead lifts are notoriously hard to do correctly even for those of us who have been lifting for 20 years. Also, as I get older I can feel my body telling me to stop doing certain things, so I have to adapt. I have no idea why this is so polarizing but I think it's great that he's pointing out options. If you don't need/want/care/dare to give up squats and dead lifts then you don't need this video.
5 years late. Don’t risk it. I had a collapsed disc causing facet joint pain attacks. I knew I had to strengthen my back as spine surgeon and physical therapist said so, already weight lifted. What they meant was sensible exercises. I started out fine but after a year I got cocky and I started doing DL. Big mistake. I was on it with keeping correct form, proper hip hinge, had a PT watch me. I kept weight sensible. All ok for about a year until it wasn’t. Just slightly too tired one day and one of the small supporting muscles not quite doing its job and felt that tell tale dull lower back ache as I set the bar down. It set me back to 2 further years of severe stabbing pains that put me on the floor. Now I’m totally fine, I don’t touch DL or squats and weight lift still. For legs I just use press machine and leg curls. I ride dirt bikes, cant be bothered with DL screwing me up again. Not worth it. The spine surgeon said DL are dangerous in that it’s the smaller supporting muscles that give out and can cause your spine to overload. It’s the muscles basically protecting your spine and keeping it upright, which on its own would just collapse like a bendy toy snake. You’re really risking it when you’re overloading those spine supporting muscles to point of near failure as they’re the only thing protecting your spine from the force of that bar. You’ve only got to be fatigued one day or slightly off and..
Excellent points. I can deadlift with good form I think....but its those transitional points where you have to lift correctly between phases that you must hit perfectly with the right weight. Squats I'm nearly done with em. My legs and glutes are far stronger than my upper body right now anyway.
that i knew already. is not obligated, but is highly recommended. but people cannot take this as a excuse to avoid a few exercises, i think if you are there, "spending" time on the gym, give your best ladies and gentlemen
It shouldn't be an excuse. If someone has a legitimate need to exclude these exercises they should do what's best for their overall health and personal fitness needs.
I do dumbell squats and a form of straight leg deadlift with dumbells but that's all no other deadlifts for me, id rather save my back because my form sucks and I don't care to take the time to learn the form. I work with dumbells and a pull up bar at home , just trying to build some muscle and be decently lean.
For my consideration nobody’s bodybuilders can develop on decent way your legs without squat and deadlifts when started your career,on advanced step is possible training only leg press,hack squat and leg extensions for working on safety.
You still need deadlifts😂...kidding. I don't really have a problem performing deadlifts and after a few months of training without them I started integrating them in my routine. Problem is that I do them at the start of my training and they take a lot of energy...I cannot perform lat pull downs and t-bar rows as I used before. I need to drop the weight a bit. (same with squats...started slowly on it and now it is integrated in my routine I think what Silent Mike said in this video is absolutely true...more than this I think every 6-8 weeks I will change my routine to not do the deadlifts or to put it at the end.
Thanks for your feedback! There's a time and place for everything, and the type of program you perform will change just as your goals and levels of enjoyment will. 👍
I'm soo weak at deadlifts and squats. My plan builds on these by start progression, low reps medium weight, 1 x session, same week, auxiliary next session. I feel I need to build up step by step.
I will say I like squats and see results. I've been deadlifting for years, and they absolutely do nothing for me. I just do them because I think I need to do them. At 51 years old the risk reward is not worth it.
Job van de Laar it depends on what muscle you want to target. If you want to target quads, you have your feet closer, if you want to target hamstrings, you have you legs further apart and toes out ( sumo )
dorian yates won the mr olympia with leg press only i forgot what year, he had a lower back injury or siomething so had to build his mass using the leg press as his compound and hack squat machine.
"There is no reason to be alive if you cannot do deadlift." - Jon Pall Sigmarsson While not necessary they are fundamental movements that if you can do you should do and if you cannot do you should be working towards being able to do, whether that requires corrective exercise, physical therapy, working on your mobility, what-have-you. Of course there will be some people who simply cannot but I believe they are few and far between. Just because you don't have to doesn't mean you shouldn't.
For sure, and it depends on where you're at. Working to improve neuromuscular efficiency is going to be first priority as well as stabilization, and then from there, break it down to what your specific goals are and what would be the best route would be to take to achieve them. 👍
Appreciate this bc I can't squat or deadlift as I have a chronic bad back from injury 7 yrs ago. I can bench and dumbbells but I feel like I can never achieve my goal of getting bigger as deadlift and squats seem to be the best way. Btw I'm 16
Deadlifts and squats make your legs bigger. If you want a bigger upper body they won't do anything towards that. They are good for gaining weight fast because of the big muscles in the legs but for aesthetical purposes, not so much.
I'm not aware of Athlean X doing any competive lifting. Mike has. X is a fantastic coach and extremely knowledgeable, dont get me wrong, but mike does have more experience in that area.
Looking at this from a general health and wellness focal point. What is it called when you sit down? You squat in order to use the toilet. You use the deadlift to pick up anything off of the ground. I understand there are other movements that can stimulate the muscles to grow, but isolation to these muscles limits your functional ability to use them long term.
It's true that a training program can't be built on isolation exercises alone and a well rounded training program is vital. But the exercises you perform are ultimately dependent on your goals from a performance, physique, and overall health perspective. And it is also going to be dependent on where you are at in your fitness journey and the muscle imbalances any given person may possess that need to be addressed first.
Even with bad form, one can safely sit on the toilet or pick up a pencil off of the ground because there is minimal load. The ability for one to take a poo by themselves or lift an small object from the ground that they can safely squat or deadlift a heavy load
I love deadlifts and squats.. it's like the core top level exercises for strength. It makes sense what he is talking. But then atleast once in a week we should implement deadlift and squat. We can always start with light. :)
Tbh that's the reason I'm here, I've recorded my deadlifts to see if I'm doing anything wrong and my form looks good but I get back pain either way, wondering if I should just drop them or stick to lower weight with more reps🤔
@@michaelweston8304 you only live once . Don’t ruin you back because as we get older we get weaker and the things we did wrong will kick back once we get older. That my opinion. Barbell rows , dumbbell rows and pull ups at the end of your work to depressurize your spine .
Disagree. All sports and all people would benefit from the better force production. Squats and deadlifts are the most efficient way to increase raw strength, so that is the best way. Machines are too isolated to provide the body effective muscular strength and force production.
JahHappy and you missed my point. I don’t believe that machines are at all beneficial. The body, outside of niche situations, never moves in isolated body parts. Athletes and the general public would benefiting more by increasing their ability to produce force and their display of power by training the muscles that allow that strength as a system. Next time you squat or deadlift, take a moment and feel what parts of your body are being used. In my personal experience, I have never had a lift of either of them that did not have me using all of my musculature, unless it was very light weight. If your goal is just to plug it into your calorie app, waste time, or just to say “I go to the gym” then disregard what I said. But if you have a goal that involves training, and being able to produce more force would benefit you, then increase your squats and deadlifts.
Maurice Pete nobody else has said anything about machines but nice straw man argument. You seem to be missing the entire point of the video. Although squatting and deadlifting can be beneficial, in cases of injuries and mobility issues there may be more effective exercises to perform. Similarly, although eating chicken breasts can be beneficial to ensuring adequate protein consumption, there are other protein sources a person can structure their diet around based on individual requirements and preferences. The point being that benefits do not equate to necessities.
I have uneven arm length due to an injury growing up. Should I reconsider doing deadlifts for the long term? Seems like it could be a recipe for imbalances in my case. What would be some good alternatives? I'm considering good mornings, hip thrusts and pullovers.
I have a lower back injury i can't deadlift without suffering from pain anymore, but luckily i can squat on smith. Is there any replacement to deadlifts?
You think everyone needs squats and dead lifts? There are alternative exercises that can be used to overcome mobility issues, protect previous injuries or target sport specific goals.
Not necessarily it’s dogmatic to think you only need the big 3 to get jacked or strong personally I’ve torn my acl twice before I even hit 20 and I get stiff knees when squatting doesn’t feel good
Shit doing squats with dumbbells are effective as well just mix up variations with them and boom!!! Legs are burning like a mfer so you definitely don't need to squat or deadlift to get big or add muscle there is many exercises out there!!
I agree in principle... But if a person is "able" they SHOULD include these lifts in their personalized routine for an optimal physiological response especially if they are are a TRUE NATTY. Ijs
It's also not necessary to drive or use public transit to get from Boston to New York, you could get there on foot. But, just like using fluff over compounds, it'll take you way longer to get to your destination.
Thanks for your opinion, but I will stick with the recommendation of sports physical therapist, sports medicine physicians, and evidence based research. Folks who don’t know the difference between tendinitis and “tendernitis” shouldn’t be taken seriously.
M J silent mike programs for power lifters and he has made it clear that although deadlifts and squats are beneficial, they are not absolutely necessary for every single person on earth...I guarantee the majority of physical therapists, sports medicine physicians, and evidence based research will concur. Like he says, the vast majority of ifbb pros do not deadlift.
Um, can you show me a single professional opinion piece from a sports physician which states absolutely that these exercises are 100% necessary in all cases? You can't because "necessary" is very different from "desired" or "beneficial".
classic 4 day split...this is what I do because I need to put mass and also lose some fat. Regarding food...I the 'pause' days I'm trying to eat less carbs. Now this is just a starting point but you can read a bit and find a routine for mass and for weight loss play with the food and cardio back/biceps chest/triceps pause legs shoulders/traps/forearms pause pause for 7-8 weeks / 3 sets for each exercise with weight increase. If it doesn't work try something else for 8 more weeks and so on. :)
Most of the programs that we offer are a part of our All Access subscription, but we do have a lot of free content on our site as well like our exercise database.
Very controversial. We may not NEED to do squats/dead-lifts to make gains. But its more optimum time wise to do so since it elicits a greater GH/IGF1 (GH is really a LBM preservation hormone and less an anabolic hormone) and neurological stress adaptation and in turn higher mitochondrial density and power per volume of muscle mass. That said, if one has an injury or mobility issue - one can do alternative things or go lighter and up reps-n-sets. The more degrees of freedom the body is exposed to in balancing loads the more neurological stimulation and training effect to get combinatorical synergy in all the interconnected muscles in the entire chain of motion. More planes of motion are king. Bottom line - more effect for time in gym and for faster calendar schedule toward goals - which plays into self-motivation when one sees and feels the results. All that said - proper timed NUTRITION is as important if not more so than the stimuli. We must spike insulin in the presence of quality protein to get the fastest Muscle Protein Synthesis and amino uptake. But there's also the issue of gaining body fat if combining high glycemic carbs with fats at same high insulin period.
Absolutely! Always want to make sure that you are performing exercises that you are capable of performing. Injuries are a big deal and some exercises need to be skipped because of it.
@@husskiii Furthest possibly wrong as you could be pal. Have anything intelligent to say or just another low IQ low value added troll polluting the space?
Theres many ways to get strong. Squats & deadlifts are great tools but depending on the situation/athlete may not be the #1 choice.
What's the workout for six pack
@@purushottamkumar5542 If you want Six Pack then you need heavy Benchpress, and if you want 4 packs then go for Shrugs.
@@AFA111 bhai Hindi mein bata de yaar
Purushottam Kumar bench press maro 6 packs ke liye aur shruggs maro 4 packs ke liye
@@bewater1397 thanks bhai
If squats or deadlifts are pre-disposing you to further injury and time away from regular physical exercise, they should defs be reconsidered. Thanks for the advice!
@Chris Johnson dude I dumped squats and deads after injuring my back on a bad squat.
I now do Bulgarian split squats, RDLs, hammy curls, leg extensions, lunges and shrugs.
Better gains as well
Axx
Squats and deadlifts are the shit until you herniate your lower back discs. Unfortunately.
I am 33 and one of my discs in my back is thin. It’s sad bc I always enjoyed deadlifting a lot and squatting some. Now I can’t do either and that’s what brought me here. Some of us do and did, now we cant or we will snap some shit up.
@@MrsHicks-it5xj Yea my lower back is fucked from a back injury over 10 years ago. I leg press, walking lunge etc. My overall results are fine
Interesting concept. For those that are hating on this video, he makes solid points. He's not saying there is NO benefits to these exercises but for the average person looking to shed some pounds and add some muscle mass, it's not (say it with me now) necessary. What's so hard to understand about that?
Also, I'm 6'2", I wrestled during and after high school and did martial arts, maybe did this exercise once a year if that, and I had great results.
Dorian Yates didn't squat for the majority of his career. Partially due to hip flexor injury, but his legs were phenomenal. There are many ways to skin a cat. That said, I squat and deadlift, and like many others, I do feel a benefit. So ya I agree with you.
@@johnkelleher1877 just for me personally, I didn't really like how squats tightened up my lower back so much, especially since I had to be rather flexible to pull off certain techniques in wrestling. And when my back was too stiff, I generally noticed that I did not perform as well on the mat. Not to say that I didn't do strength training for my back, but that work out in general seemed to be too much for what I needed out of my fitness goals, particular to wrestling. I would probably be more inclined to do squats these days since I don't really need to worry about how I perform in wrestling anymore.
I see
We're glad you can find some common ground with Mike!
Words without proof .....
For those of us with knee and lower back injuries, it doesn't matter how perfect our form is when doing squats and deadlifts. It's a matter of mass and how much force the joints can take before they deform. It's simple physics. So, I either use very light weights with squats and deadlifts or simply do something else.
I agree with you completely I stay away from them completely tore my back up and popped my knee caps doing a 360lb deadlift 😒
Facts hurt my back a long time ago and now can't get stronger 😢
Yep my injury ration has gone right down since stopping
Do what instead
?
@@tomg5405 exercises that don't compress the spine. Bulgarian split squats, dumbbell lunges, reverse dumbbell lunges, romanians, lying leg curls and leg extensions
Just look to what happens down the road. I was an advocate for squats and deadlifts until I blew out my neck and lower back. Fused C4 thru C7 and 2 surgeries on L2 thru L5 S1. I've found many exercises that I can work my legs and not put all that weight on my spine. Looking back for what I'm going for I would definitely rethink my work out in my younger years. I still workout 5 days per week and I still look pretty damn good. I'm just saying be careful with these, is it really worth the aggravation down the road. We all get older
What would you recommend instead. As keep herniating disc l5 S1. Puts me out for a while. But still go back. Stupidly I think
@@mafujame1 use the machines, they have machines you can put alot of weight on but not put pressure on your spine. If it hurts me, I stop using it. You can still get in good workouts and not hurt yourself. Your spine is nothing to mess around with. Fighting thru the pain is not an option with it. I do the elliptical everyday. I turn it up as high as I can go and go as fast as I can. I've been doing it for almost 14 years now. Don't knock it until you try it. It took almost a year at a way lower resistance before my legs didn't burn. I try getting others to do it stufg
With me, but they don't last 10mins. The burn will stop, just takes awhile
I'm sorry to hear what you've gone through man! Sounds terrible... 😔 I tell people I don't squat or deadlift because I just lift to look good not for performance
Me too, I am 33 and I squatted and deadlifted with perfect form. Turns out one of my discs in my spine is thin. It causes too much pain after deadlifting and I have trouble picking up my toddler. I had to give up on deadlifts and squats. I do feel I would of been better off never doing them bc they definitely exasperated the problem. The not so funny thing is older ppl in the gym warned me to stop doing them in my twenties. They said they had back problems but I assumed it was their bad form. I should of actually listened to the warning.
@@greggfridline4260 agree like assisted squat machine, leg press machine, ham curl machine especially when you get older.
I used to DL and squat for years. I stopped, call it old age. Substitute with leg press, lunges, Bulgarian split etc. There is no visible muscle decrease or strength for that matter. I have never gained much from squatting in the first place. But hats off to those who are passionate about it!
There you go, you found what works! Everyone is different and it's all about finding what works best for you.
So your body looks just as good without squatting? I'm thinking of quitting them too, too much strain on the spine and there's alternative exercises I could do instead like you said.
I've always felt like my lower back is a limiting factor when doing back squats and deadlifts. My legs are always more sore after doing reverse lunges instead.
I only do light deadlifts with a trap bar and for future workouts to use higher weights will use machine only for safety.
Amen. And the statement that each movement or exercise is another tool in the toolbox is the absolute truth! Exercise helps us reach goals after goals are made /remade, and they are tools to do that. Lots of respect on this video!!
Glad you like it!
Personally, as a personal trainer and someone who does bodybuilding, I avoid deadlifts for 2 reasons:
1- My posterior chain in general (especially my back) is very strong and well developed, so I don't feel the need to incorporate deadlifts into my routine. And...
2- I think the deadlift (even with excellent form) is a risky movement, at least compared to other exercises. I don't wanna risk injuring my lower back when I have no need to do deadlifts in the first place.
Squats on the other hand, by far the best exercise for legs, it's a must for almost anyone looking to build strength or muscle. Sure, you can work around them and do leg press, leg extensions, hamstring curls, lunges,...but you'd be better off incorporating squats in your routine as your main leg exercise (unless you have a knee injury or something that stops you from doing squats).
Why is a squat even inherently less dangerous than a deadlift? Nothing to suggest that either of these movements are dangerous unless you have health issues or overuse injuries
I stopped squatting because of my knees. Years of abuse thanks to Uncle Sam lol
I feel you there...in the same boat both knees and low back
Had a herniated disk due to a injury in the gym,recovered pretty fast,thank God...i will swap the squats with lunges,hip belt squat and good mornings..It takes a fracture of second to snap your spine,it's such a risk that will keep you off the gym for a prolonged period of time(it depends how bad is the injury)..these 3 exercices will build the legs maximally,with minimal stress on the spine and will get your squat number up,without practicing it!
Be carefull guys,you don't want a herniated disc, the pain is extremely horrible...
Felt that
Don't your knees hurt from loading the leg press with 32 plates? I'd say re-racking them would probably be the biggest workout but we all know you just leave them on the press and wait for someone else to re-rack them before they can use it themselves.
You shouldn’t just stop squatting though , address the problem so that you can continue , is a basic human movement that we learn from toddler age it’s fundamental to overall health and ability
Compressing your spine for an exercise that is only about 30% efficient isn't as productive as you could be.
even though the compressive force is also on your two legs in a back squat? dumbass
I need squats and deadlifts
*Can't live without them*
Absolutely!
@Nothing Burger 😂 wtf
I dont deadlift or squat too often. I think it's best to test your lift or periodize them in. I mainly do nordic curls or hamstring curls and leg extensions or barbell hack squats. My legs now are growing better than they ever did when I was doing basic heavy back squats. I can focus on getting my overhead press up or adding another 60lbs to my handstand pushups rather than my CNS making me feel like crap
I started doing deadlifts yesterday and I walked away from it after 2 sets of 10 because I didn't feel it useful so I came here to see if it's something that I really need.
Screwed on both. I was pancaked by a truck and now disabled due to spine injury. That said, I’ve just cycled 11kms from the UK to Thailand for a children’s charity, but I can’t swuat so leg press and machines are my only options. I miss squats, but still feel modern machines will help build my legs, but maybe not like dead’s or squats?
Wow! Thank you so much for sharing! Hoping for the best!
They're great for destroying your lower back and wrists. Other than that, you can get a good aesthetic without these.
I love to squat and deadlift, but my lower back has disk issues. Now in my 50s, I can't do either anymore. It sucks, but barbell step back lunges, walking dumbbell lunges, and high rep leg presses still get my legs nice and sore.
I prefer to deadlift even though it’s “more taxing” I’ve blown my knee out twice in my life and I shit a brick anytime I wanna squat so I’ve started doing leg press
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Personally, I love the leg press, could do them every day!
Yeah because it’s an easy machine compared to squats
@@Foley58 It's hard for me to get to the gym, because it's a long walk! But once in a while, a friend invites me to go with him to the gym. When he does this, I always do some deadlifts. I don't especially enjoy them, but I think deadlifts are the best exercise.
When I was younger my leg workout revolved around the squat machine, and I was eventually able to do over 1200, full ROM, for multiple reps.. I think that is when my legs were in their best shape.
I do add both Deadlifts and Squats when I am able to commit to a workout plan. Right now I just do mostly bodyweight from home, then I might go to the gym and do exercises for body parts that are hard to target from home.
Overhead squats with 65 to 135 lbs are all you need.
Thank you for your insights and explanation
I just want to build muscle and look good. I don't squat often and I've never deadlifted. I've been working out since July and made some progress. I'd rather not deadlift or squat just to avoid the possibility of injury. I do the bench press because it isn't as dangerous.
you'll have a higher chance of injuring yourself loading 1440lbs on the leg press than you would squatting.
@@flyingbutthole That goes for any exercise, because that would mean he is making a fool out of himself
@@flyingbutthole It's much easier to balance a leg press than squat or deadlift.
@@flyingbutthole why the hell would a normal thinking human do that? why 1440lbs? absolutely unnecessary
Getting good at ATG squats fixed my knee and back issues. It is now my most important exercise.
Silent Mike is saying that for MOST of us there are other ways to reach your goals besides squats and dead lifts. I love squats but my neurologist, orthopedic surgeon and physical therapist are not big fans of ME doing them. I still do them sometimes with low weight and high reps (don't tell) but I have expanded my list of options so I can still make progress without them. They are not fans of my leg press obsession either (I usually go very heavy on it) so I am learning to use other ways to get similar results. Squats and dead lifts are notoriously hard to do correctly even for those of us who have been lifting for 20 years. Also, as I get older I can feel my body telling me to stop doing certain things, so I have to adapt. I have no idea why this is so polarizing but I think it's great that he's pointing out options. If you don't need/want/care/dare to give up squats and dead lifts then you don't need this video.
Thank you for your insight, we're glad you were able to get Mikes message here!
Why are you letting some little douche-pussies from the physical therapy field tell you what to do?
5 years late. Don’t risk it. I had a collapsed disc causing facet joint pain attacks. I knew I had to strengthen my back as spine surgeon and physical therapist said so, already weight lifted. What they meant was sensible exercises. I started out fine but after a year I got cocky and I started doing DL. Big mistake. I was on it with keeping correct form, proper hip hinge, had a PT watch me. I kept weight sensible. All ok for about a year until it wasn’t. Just slightly too tired one day and one of the small supporting muscles not quite doing its job and felt that tell tale dull lower back ache as I set the bar down. It set me back to 2 further years of severe stabbing pains that put me on the floor. Now I’m totally fine, I don’t touch DL or squats and weight lift still. For legs I just use press machine and leg curls. I ride dirt bikes, cant be bothered with DL screwing me up again. Not worth it. The spine surgeon said DL are dangerous in that it’s the smaller supporting muscles that give out and can cause your spine to overload. It’s the muscles basically protecting your spine and keeping it upright, which on its own would just collapse like a bendy toy snake. You’re really risking it when you’re overloading those spine supporting muscles to point of near failure as they’re the only thing protecting your spine from the force of that bar. You’ve only got to be fatigued one day or slightly off and..
I'm 57yrs old with not a lot of time. Squats/Deads/ Bench/Rows are the most efficient
Absolutely are!
Machines are great options to barbell squats and deadlifts. They are very expensive and take up space but most gyms have them.
machines take away your core stabilization demands dumbass
Excellent points.
I can deadlift with good form I think....but its those transitional points where you have to lift correctly between phases that you must hit perfectly with the right weight.
Squats I'm nearly done with em. My legs and glutes are far stronger than my upper body right now anyway.
i use RDL instead of deadlift, leg press and v squat instead of squats. and get crazy results
that i knew already.
is not obligated, but is highly recommended.
but people cannot take this as a excuse to avoid a few exercises, i think if you are there, "spending" time on the gym, give your best ladies and gentlemen
It shouldn't be an excuse. If someone has a legitimate need to exclude these exercises they should do what's best for their overall health and personal fitness needs.
I do dumbell squats and a form of straight leg deadlift with dumbells but that's all no other deadlifts for me, id rather save my back because my form sucks and I don't care to take the time to learn the form. I work with dumbells and a pull up bar at home , just trying to build some muscle and be decently lean.
Deadlift is the best thing that ever happened to my workout routine!
Glad that you added it to the routine!
Great advice for those people who want to go to the gym but not do any work.
Oppositional engagement farming youtube garbage.
This new information makes me always confuse and I always end up not doing workout
That's no good! Do you squat or deadlift?
For my consideration nobody’s bodybuilders can develop on decent way your legs without squat and deadlifts when started your career,on advanced step is possible training only leg press,hack squat and leg extensions for working on safety.
You still need deadlifts😂...kidding.
I don't really have a problem performing deadlifts and after a few months of training without them I started integrating them in my routine. Problem is that I do them at the start of my training and they take a lot of energy...I cannot perform lat pull downs and t-bar rows as I used before. I need to drop the weight a bit. (same with squats...started slowly on it and now it is integrated in my routine
I think what Silent Mike said in this video is absolutely true...more than this I think every 6-8 weeks I will change my routine to not do the deadlifts or to put it at the end.
Thanks for your feedback! There's a time and place for everything, and the type of program you perform will change just as your goals and levels of enjoyment will. 👍
I do deadlifts as my very last exercise in my routine, that way, once I finish with them, don't need anything in the tank for another lift
Do only doing Squat and deadlift helps in gaining weight??????
I'm soo weak at deadlifts and squats. My plan builds on these by start progression, low reps medium weight, 1 x session, same week, auxiliary next session. I feel I need to build up step by step.
I will say I like squats and see results. I've been deadlifting for years, and they absolutely do nothing for me. I just do them because I think I need to do them. At 51 years old the risk reward is not worth it.
I'm training for my first natural comp but I have quite sensitive knees so I only do leg press curls & extensions what's your thoughts
I have a question about Squats. What is better: legs close or legs wide ?
Job van de Laar it depends on what muscle you want to target. If you want to target quads, you have your feet closer, if you want to target hamstrings, you have you legs further apart and toes out ( sumo )
5ft 8 to 6 ft 5 man oh man talk about genetically blessed. That's almost a foot in 4 years c'mon son.
Too risky on your back and knees, especially if your a bit older like me
Gotta do what's going to be realistic for you, that's for sure!
Yates didnt squat, squats are overrated. Leg press and hack squats are much better
Yes I do.
My body doesn't like deadlifts. I do kettlebell swings and trap bar deadlifts.
dorian yates won the mr olympia with leg press only i forgot what year, he had a lower back injury or siomething so had to build his mass using the leg press as his compound and hack squat machine.
That's an unique way of explaining. I believe to understand this video one needs to be open minded otherwise Cognitive dissonance will creep in.
That's a good way to look at it!
"There is no reason to be alive if you cannot do deadlift." - Jon Pall Sigmarsson
While not necessary they are fundamental movements that if you can do you should do and if you cannot do you should be working towards being able to do, whether that requires corrective exercise, physical therapy, working on your mobility, what-have-you. Of course there will be some people who simply cannot but I believe they are few and far between.
Just because you don't have to doesn't mean you shouldn't.
For sure, and it depends on where you're at. Working to improve neuromuscular efficiency is going to be first priority as well as stabilization, and then from there, break it down to what your specific goals are and what would be the best route would be to take to achieve them. 👍
Deadlifts and squats = injury
can you redpill me further on this brother
I understand what he is saying, but... I like to pick things up and put them down. Heavy things.
Then go for it! 😋
Appreciate this bc I can't squat or deadlift as I have a chronic bad back from injury 7 yrs ago. I can bench and dumbbells but I feel like I can never achieve my goal of getting bigger as deadlift and squats seem to be the best way. Btw I'm 16
Deadlifts and squats make your legs bigger. If you want a bigger upper body they won't do anything towards that. They are good for gaining weight fast because of the big muscles in the legs but for aesthetical purposes, not so much.
diverse workouts and don't forget the basics is the key to success
Specificity is key! 👌
Farmer walks been helping me big time i feel like there safer
squats and deadlifts can destroy your back and knees! Be careful out there people!
dumbasses like you are what people really need to be careful out there 8P
I used to do legs by just leg press after i can squat more and go back to leg press my knees is cracking so much so i prefer squat than leg press
Everyone has to do what works for them!
Id say listen to your body. If you're normal fatigue is turning into chronic pain then don't push yourself to increase your Squat gains
Excuse me sir , if I'm basketball player should I continue doing squat and deadlift ? or you recommend to do other excercise instend.
You can continue to do those exercises!
Athlean X recommends squats for athletes. I think i rather listen to someone who has more experience than this guy no offense 🤷🏽♂️
Fr
So if athlete x says do squats with your bulging disc would you do it?
I'm not aware of Athlean X doing any competive lifting. Mike has. X is a fantastic coach and extremely knowledgeable, dont get me wrong, but mike does have more experience in that area.
Yeah by someone who has more experience u mean mike right??
Experience in using fake plates?
Looking at this from a general health and wellness focal point. What is it called when you sit down? You squat in order to use the toilet. You use the deadlift to pick up anything off of the ground. I understand there are other movements that can stimulate the muscles to grow, but isolation to these muscles limits your functional ability to use them long term.
It's true that a training program can't be built on isolation exercises alone and a well rounded training program is vital. But the exercises you perform are ultimately dependent on your goals from a performance, physique, and overall health perspective. And it is also going to be dependent on where you are at in your fitness journey and the muscle imbalances any given person may possess that need to be addressed first.
Good thing I low bar squat 5 plates, I don't know how else I would get off the toilet.
Even with bad form, one can safely sit on the toilet or pick up a pencil off of the ground because there is minimal load. The ability for one to take a poo by themselves or lift an small object from the ground that they can safely squat or deadlift a heavy load
Bulgarian split squats > barbell squats
I have to give up both due to lower back giving me pain during/after each session 😔
"THUMB DOWN" for "reebok" hat!!!
I love deadlifts and squats.. it's like the core top level exercises for strength.
It makes sense what he is talking. But then atleast once in a week we should implement deadlift and squat. We can always start with light. :)
Go for it! There still good exercises, this is just a different perspective.
"tendernitis"
Lol heard that to
😂
This doesn't make sense because no one work out is NECESSARY bt some are fundamental and Deadlifts and Squats are those that are. But I get his point
That is a good way to put it!
I saw Joe Defranco do to me a deadlift variation. It was split squat but with a trap bad. Amazing exercise for hitting all parts the glutes and legs.
Deadlift the cause of constent lowback pain ,,
For me.. even with the correct form .
Same bruh
Tbh that's the reason I'm here, I've recorded my deadlifts to see if I'm doing anything wrong and my form looks good but I get back pain either way, wondering if I should just drop them or stick to lower weight with more reps🤔
@@michaelweston8304 you only live once . Don’t ruin you back because as we get older we get weaker and the things we did wrong will kick back once we get older. That my opinion.
Barbell rows , dumbbell rows and pull ups at the end of your work to depressurize your spine .
Disagree. All sports and all people would benefit from the better force production. Squats and deadlifts are the most efficient way to increase raw strength, so that is the best way. Machines are too isolated to provide the body effective muscular strength and force production.
Each can be beneficial.
Being beneficial doesn’t mean they are necessary.
Lol you clearly missed the point. He simply said you dont absolutely NEED to do them, there's alternatives that are just fine.
JahHappy and you missed my point. I don’t believe that machines are at all beneficial. The body, outside of niche situations, never moves in isolated body parts. Athletes and the general public would benefiting more by increasing their ability to produce force and their display of power by training the muscles that allow that strength as a system.
Next time you squat or deadlift, take a moment and feel what parts of your body are being used. In my personal experience, I have never had a lift of either of them that did not have me using all of my musculature, unless it was very light weight.
If your goal is just to plug it into your calorie app, waste time, or just to say “I go to the gym” then disregard what I said. But if you have a goal that involves training, and being able to produce more force would benefit you, then increase your squats and deadlifts.
Maurice Pete nobody else has said anything about machines but nice straw man argument.
You seem to be missing the entire point of the video. Although squatting and deadlifting can be beneficial, in cases of injuries and mobility issues there may be more effective exercises to perform.
Similarly, although eating chicken breasts can be beneficial to ensuring adequate protein consumption, there are other protein sources a person can structure their diet around based on individual requirements and preferences. The point being that benefits do not equate to necessities.
I have uneven arm length due to an injury growing up. Should I reconsider doing deadlifts for the long term? Seems like it could be a recipe for imbalances in my case.
What would be some good alternatives? I'm considering good mornings, hip thrusts and pullovers.
Very well said
Glad you enjoyed the video!
I have a lower back injury i can't deadlift without suffering from pain anymore, but luckily i can squat on smith. Is there any replacement to deadlifts?
Romanian deadlift? You will want to make sure you are healthy first though.
Deadlifts are love
👍👍
Yes you do need them!
You think everyone needs squats and dead lifts? There are alternative exercises that can be used to overcome mobility issues, protect previous injuries or target sport specific goals.
@@bodybuildingcom In that case no.
Not necessarily it’s dogmatic to think you only need the big 3 to get jacked or strong personally I’ve torn my acl twice before I even hit 20 and I get stiff knees when squatting doesn’t feel good
Mark Rippetoe does not like this.
Shit doing squats with dumbbells are effective as well just mix up variations with them and boom!!! Legs are burning like a mfer so you definitely don't need to squat or deadlift to get big or add muscle there is many exercises out there!!
I agree in principle... But if a person is "able" they SHOULD include these lifts in their personalized routine for an optimal physiological response especially if they are are a TRUE NATTY. Ijs
That's a good way to look at it too! It's just another perspective!
Deadlifts charge up testerone i can feel my sexual energy when i deadlift and squats to
You don't need em, but they sure as shit help..
Different strokes for different folks .
Yes indeed!
Bizarre anyone thought otherwise. Goodf vid, great valid pts raised.
It's also not necessary to drive or use public transit to get from Boston to New York, you could get there on foot. But, just like using fluff over compounds, it'll take you way longer to get to your destination.
We see your point. 👏 The takeaway is to do what's going to work best for you.
Deadlifts do look pretty badass tho
Thanks for your opinion, but I will stick with the recommendation of sports physical therapist, sports medicine physicians, and evidence based research. Folks who don’t know the difference between tendinitis and “tendernitis” shouldn’t be taken seriously.
M J silent mike programs for power lifters and he has made it clear that although deadlifts and squats are beneficial, they are not absolutely necessary for every single person on earth...I guarantee the majority of physical therapists, sports medicine physicians, and evidence based research will concur. Like he says, the vast majority of ifbb pros do not deadlift.
Um, can you show me a single professional opinion piece from a sports physician which states absolutely that these exercises are 100% necessary in all cases? You can't because "necessary" is very different from "desired" or "beneficial".
“Evidence based research”, as opposed to no-evidence based research? Is that a thing?
Different strokes for different folks. Do what makes sense and is going to be sustainable long term for YOU. ✌️
what is a good program for losing weight and gaining muscle at the same time , as wellas work on stamina
classic 4 day split...this is what I do because I need to put mass and also lose some fat. Regarding food...I the 'pause' days I'm trying to eat less carbs. Now this is just a starting point but you can read a bit and find a routine for mass and for weight loss play with the food and cardio
back/biceps
chest/triceps
pause
legs
shoulders/traps/forearms
pause
pause
for 7-8 weeks / 3 sets for each exercise with weight increase.
If it doesn't work try something else for 8 more weeks and so on. :)
We have a ton to choose from! Check out Shortcut to Shred 👌
@@bodybuildingcom is your guys programs free ?
Most of the programs that we offer are a part of our All Access subscription, but we do have a lot of free content on our site as well like our exercise database.
Full day of eating for muscle building
Sounds like a great day!
@@bodybuildingcom please make video on this
A thousand likes within a couple of days :) nice work... great points too.
Glad you think so!
Dorian Yates did not do the free bar squats.
Not everyone does.
Does deadlift make thighs or legs bigger?
Yes
h thankss
I love squats but the squat racks at my gym are always packed with a line of people....
I shelled out about $2,000 altogether last summer and set up my own home gym, was costly, but worth it
When is bodybuilding going to showcase barbell Brigade?
We appreciate your interests and feedback! Barbell Brigade is an awesome gym! 💪
They encourage ego lifting, boring as hell and risky
I do rack pulls instead of deads
Rack Pull is a half deadlift
@@FireShinbo really genius
Very controversial. We may not NEED to do squats/dead-lifts to make gains. But its more optimum time wise to do so since it elicits a greater GH/IGF1 (GH is really a LBM preservation hormone and less an anabolic hormone) and neurological stress adaptation and in turn higher mitochondrial density and power per volume of muscle mass. That said, if one has an injury or mobility issue - one can do alternative things or go lighter and up reps-n-sets.
The more degrees of freedom the body is exposed to in balancing loads the more neurological stimulation and training effect to get combinatorical synergy in all the interconnected muscles in the entire chain of motion. More planes of motion are king. Bottom line - more effect for time in gym and for faster calendar schedule toward goals - which plays into self-motivation when one sees and feels the results. All that said - proper timed NUTRITION is as important if not more so than the stimuli. We must spike insulin in the presence of quality protein to get the fastest Muscle Protein Synthesis and amino uptake. But there's also the issue of gaining body fat if combining high glycemic carbs with fats at same high insulin period.
Absolutely! Always want to make sure that you are performing exercises that you are capable of performing. Injuries are a big deal and some exercises need to be skipped because of it.
You sound like a crackhead
@@husskiii Furthest possibly wrong as you could be pal. Have anything intelligent to say or just another low IQ low value added troll polluting the space?
none of that is even remotely true as it just being applied to squats and deadlifts. Good lord.
Never see you with Mark Bell anymore? Very interesting video
Thanks for watching!
I play hockey, what do you recommend as an exercise ?
Just a single exercise or an overall program?
Stopped doing that shit training other exercises my lower back feels free
I hit a growth spurt similar to that! I ended up with Osgood Schlatter
File this under r/unpopularopinion on Reddit.
I like doing squats but my knees cry the next day.
Same... I like stronglift 5x5 but cant use it coz of knees
That ain't good, when I do squats, it's my glutes and quads that are sore the next day, as it should be
Sounds like some form of tendonitis.
Amazing