Deadlifting is one of the most basic functional movements a human can do. Now a days, we make it look scary or intimidating with lost of props, heavy barbells, and grunting. But at its core, deadlifting is simply picking something up and putting it back down (yes like the planet fitness commercial....).
So the bottom line is deadlifting is safe for everyone no matter their height, gender, or past exercise history. The biggest factor regarding deadlifting, is that the person is taught to do it correctly and safely. We all have our unique quirks or prior injuries. But when it is done correctly, in educated manner, there is nothing unsafe about the deadlift.
Actually everyone should properly know how to deadlift. It comes in handy throughout every day of our lives. Every time we pick up a bag of dog food, lift a kid off the ground, or pick up a suitcase to put in the car, we are deadlifting.
Deadlifting utilizes several different major muscle groups. You have three hamstrings that come into play, three glute muscles, the lower back, and your core. By recruiting all these muscle groups deadlifting can be one of the most beneficial movements you can do. It trains the body to work as a unit instead of individual pieces. This is the way we were wired and meant to move.
After sitting for so much of our day, sometimes our bodies tend to be discombobulated and have a hard time communicating with its different segments. Utilizing large muscle groups by doing movements like the deadlift, help not only to increase strength and activation of those muscles, but decrease risk for injury throughout day-to-day life. So yes, tall people, short people, all people should be deadlifting!
