As humans we are constantly picking things up off the ground. Maybe it is a barbell, a child, or a bag of groceries. With all these scenarios, the exercise is still the same. The goal is still to lift an object off the ground in the most efficient way possible, keeping our spine in a neutral position, and to do so with the least amount of risk of injury. So by telling a person to never deadlift, we are setting them up with improper strategies to pick up weights or objects outside of the gym and doing a disservice to that individual. Even worse, we are setting them up for pain and injury down the road. 

Now I am not saying go out there and load the bar up and start cranking out as many reps as heavy as you can go. I'm saying that everyone should learn the motor pattern, practice it, and perfect it before adding a load to it. The choice is up to the individual and their goals on how much they continue to load it. By strengthening this motor pattern you are creating a more resilient body and picking up that bag of groceries is no longer a threat to your well being. 

All in all, whether in a rehab, training, or gym setting, the deadlift should be performed with proper execution and good mechanics. A sub par deadlift puts you at high risk for a low back injury. Furthermore, being told not to deadlift only creates more dysfunction and imbalance with our bodies. We want to learn good movement patterns and apply those movement patterns to our daily activities so we can move freely and without injury! If you're confused and looking for a customized online or in person program tailored to your specific goals click here to schedule a free session or 20 min call.