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Old 09-12-2012, 10:55 PM   #20865
red_sir
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jayare604 View Post
That leads me to this question. When you guys go for a 1rm on deadlifts, when do you guys "give up?" I heard once you feel your back start to arch, that's when you should let go
There has been 1 or 2 occasions when my lower back really rounded during a pull. Trust me, if that happens you will know to give up. It didn't hurt, knock on wood, but I just felt so powerless/vulnerable in that position, I knew I couldn't budge the bar a mm more.

As for the upper back rounding... well that happens to almost everyone when you get to 85-90%+ of your max. I keep pulling. I think pulling with a rounded upper back is ok in moderation. I just wouldn't train that way regularly. It's tempting though, most people can pull a LOT more with a rounded thoracic spine.

Ps. "arch" means your back is in extension which is how you want your back to be. What you don't want is your back being rounded (in flexion).
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