Table of Contents
If you’re looking for a functional exercise that also happens to be ideal for increasing your strength and adding mass to your frame, you’d struggle to find something more effective than the humble deadlift. Deadlifts are awesome compound exercises, and many consider them to be the ultimate test of strength and power. Now, as effective as standard deadlifts are, there are a few variations of the exercise, which work different muscle groups in your body. One of the most popular variations of the deadlift is the Romanian deadlift. But what are the differences between each type, and which muscle groups do they work? That’s what we’re going to be looking at right now.
Standard Deadlift Muscles Worked
Standard deadlifts, or conventional deadlifts, as they are sometimes known, are still considered to be the ultimate test of strength and power. They use similar musculature as the Squat in varying degrees (source: exrx.net). When former World’s Strongest Man, Eddie Hall, deadlifted 500kg a few years back, people were blown away. 500kg was no longer a myth. Put very simply, deadlifts require you to carefully lift a barbell up off the ground, lockout your back and hips, and lower the weight back down again. It is simple to describe, but performing it with perfect form is a lot more challenging.
Tip: You can use a power rack to do the deadlift, minimizing the risk of an injury.
Which muscle groups do conventional deadlifts work?
The deadlift is considered by many to be the ultimate compound movement. A compound movement/lift/exercise is one that targets multiple muscle groups for the duration of the lift. Key muscle groups worked during this lift include:
| Muscle | How they Work |
| Spinal erectors | Your spinal erectors, or erector spinae, if you want to get technical, extend all the way from the base of your skull down to the bottom of your vertebra in your lower back. |
| Deltoids | Deadlifts put a lot of strain on your trapezius muscles, making them great trap builders. |
| Lats | Your latissimus dorsi works in synergy with spinal erectors during this lift. Deadlifts are fantastic for packing muscle mass onto your back. |
| Core | When you perform deadlifts, your core stabilizer muscles are engaged. |
| Forearms | Deadlifts work surprisingly well for adding mass to the forearms. |
| Lower body | Deadlifts also target your glutes and legs, especially the hamstrings. |
However, everything is better when you see it with your own eyes, so you can take a look at the next video! There is a very simple but excellent explanation of how you can always know what muscles are you working when you do a deadlift.
Romanian Deadlift Muscles Worked
Now we’ll look at Romanian deadlifts. Romanian deadlifts (RDLs) are compound multi-joint barbell movements that are designed to offer an alternative to conventional deadlifts. What’s interesting is that the movement really kicks in at the top of the conventional deadlift movement, so you are lowering the bar down, rather than lifting it up from the ground. Because of this, less weight is required, as you need to be in control of the barbell for the duration of the movement. RDLs are considered better for lower body development.
Which muscles do Romanian deadlifts work?
Throughout the majority of the movement, your knees will remain bent slightly, which means that your glutes and hamstrings are engaged a lot more than conventional deadlifts. Your back also receives far less engagement. RDLs are much more effective at generating power throughout the posterior chain. This is due to the fact that your core and lower body muscles are engaged more, as your spine remains rigid and elongated. Primary muscles worked during RDLs include:
- Glutes
- Hamstrings
- Spinal erectors
- Forearms
- Core
- Deltoids (traps)
- Lats
- Hip flexors
The article has been researched & compiled by the Editorial F5F Team, a group of experienced fitness & health writers.