Deadlift muscles and world records.

 For anyone who has ever deadlifted or let me say just picked up a heavy weight of the floor ( Box of paper) the deadlift might have some familiarity. Whatever you might have lifted in your life time might create some form of familiarity with this move. For gym goers it is easier to associate with since they get very close to the real deal when they deadlift. But for most of us the 200kg barrier is about as far as we will get. This article attempts to shed light on this exercise and what muscle groups are used as well as the different ways of executing the move and the different world records in that specific execution style. First lets take a look at the human anatomy while performing this lift.

The muscle groups active during the deadlift ( Picture from quora.com)

As can be seen from the picture above the muscles include the rectus spinae, the glutes, the hamstrings, the lats, trapezius and out of picture would be the quad muscles that helps extend the legs during the lift. The grip is also very important because holding on to the bar is vital for stability and finishing the lift. There are however many different ways of executing the move in competition. Different competitions and different federations allow different gear to be used. In so doing more weight can be lifted. In strongman contest wrist wraps are allowed which can assist in securing the grip so that the lifter does not have to worry about the bar slipping out of his hand. The lifter can just focus on driving with the legs and pulling with the back. The grip is steady and a lifter can also use a overhanded grip while deadlifting. 

The size or diameter of the plate or tyre used on the side of the bar can also help to elevate the bar of the floor more or less. The distance pulled is shorter if the bar is higher of the floor. Therefore more weight can be used. Then there is the use of deadlift suits also. The deadlift suit is a very tight fitting suit made out of polyester or canvas that gives great rebound to the lifter during the lowering down to the bar phase. In so doing the suit stores energy like a spring and when the lifter starts to lift the energy is released. The suit can add pounds or kilograms. So for instance using a suit, wrist straps and pulling from a higher position can dramatically increase the amount of weight lifted. Let us have a look at the different world records who have been done by different people.

First candidate would be the regular raw powerlifting deadlift. In the sport of powerlifting no wrist straps are allowed. Only an alternating grip ( One hand over and other hand under) and chalk to ensure the grip is steady. No hitching is allowed during the lift ( Additional drive with legs) just a straight forward pull. For that record Benedikt Magnusson from Iceland has the world record. In 2011 at the MHP Clash of the titans he did 1015lbs or 460kg on the powerlifting deadlift raw. Raw means without the use of the deadlift suit.

Benedikt Magnusson with 1015 lb or 460kg in the raw standard powerlifting deadlift ( Picture from za.pinterest.com)

All right the next lift would also be a powerlifting deadlift but this time it is with a suit, not raw. This person also did a standard powerlifting deadlift ( From just above the ankles), no wrist straps but he used a deadlift suit. His name is Andy Bolton and he did 1008lb or 458kg in 2009 in a powerlifting meet. 

Andy Bolton ( athletics.fandom.com)

Now we move on to the deadlift with wrist straps and a deadlift suit on, the height of the bar is still just above the ankles and the plates used are standard powerlifting plates. That record will go to Hafthor Bjornsson from Iceland who in 2020 during isolation period pulled 501kg or 1104 lbs in his own gym in Iceland. He used wrist straps, a deadlift suit. 

Thor the mountain ( Actor in game of thrones and also world strongest man competitor) with 501kg or 1104lb ( Picture from menshealth.com)

We now look at the deadlift world record from just under the knees, using wrist straps, a deadlift suit and the bar is 18 inches above the floor. The world record for that one would be 1185lb or 537.5kg done by Oleksii Novikov from the Ukraine in 2020 at the worlds strongest man contest. Oleksii also won that contest. 

Oleksii Novikov with 1185lb or 537.5 kg in the 18 inch above the floor deadlift ( Picture from usatoday.com)

Now here is an interesting one, this one is held by a person with a disability. Yet this is one of the heaviest lifts. Martin Tye did 1113lb by sitting down and just lifting with the lower back. He didn't have the use of legs during this lift. If one wants something bad enough you will make a plan. No excuses.

Martin Tye with 1113lb on the deadlift ( Picture from militarytimes.com)

Now we move into the hummer tyre deadlift. With this lift large hummer tyres are used instead of plates. So the bar is just under knee height during the lift. Also a suit can be used and wrist straps. So a lot of weight can be lifted. That record goes to Jean Francois Caron from Canada who did 1202lb or 545kg. 

Jean Francois Caron with 1202lb or 545kg on the hummer deadlift ( Picture from barbend.com)

As most of you can see there are different ways of executing a deadlift and for each way there is a different record holder. Strength is very diverse indeed. Now head on down to your nearest gym and go and give this exercise a try. Just remember that this exercise can cause injuries if not executed with proper form.