the deadlift starts with a concentric contraction and ends with an
eccentric. The squat begins eccentrically, as the bar is lowered from lockout, and then returns to lockout with the concentric contraction, like the bench press.
The stretch reflex occurs at the transition between lowering and raising, and many studies have shown that a muscle contracts harder
concentrically when preceded by a stretch, the very thing provided by an eccentric contraction.
The down phase, if used skillfully, makes the up phase easier. But a deadlift is not preceded by any loaded stretch reflex, no matter how much drama the lifter engages in before the pull.
The deadlift starts at the mechanically hardest part of the movement, and requires the lifter to generate
the entire explosion necessary to break the bar off of the floor and get it moving up, without any help from a negative or anything else.
NOW, my question is--since the deadlift is so effective and brutal because it requires a lift with no stretch reflex, how practical would it be to REPLICATE the deadlift with the squat and bench by ELIMINATING the stretch reflex?
IE: put the squat bar in the power rack with the pins set low so that you must wedge yourself under the bar and start the squat from a "dead" position. lift,then set down on the pins and repeat.
IE: with the bench, set the pins very low so the bar is grazing your chest. lie on the bench under the bar, set up, and lift from the bottom position, and set the bar back on the pins. repeat.
obviously, it will be more difficult. my question is: why don't more people do this?
it seems like a very good way to make the lifts more challenging and productive!
however, a bit more fatigue will probably be produced from the "deadlift" bench and squat.
thoughts? :cheeky:
eccentric. The squat begins eccentrically, as the bar is lowered from lockout, and then returns to lockout with the concentric contraction, like the bench press.
The stretch reflex occurs at the transition between lowering and raising, and many studies have shown that a muscle contracts harder
concentrically when preceded by a stretch, the very thing provided by an eccentric contraction.
The down phase, if used skillfully, makes the up phase easier. But a deadlift is not preceded by any loaded stretch reflex, no matter how much drama the lifter engages in before the pull.
The deadlift starts at the mechanically hardest part of the movement, and requires the lifter to generate
the entire explosion necessary to break the bar off of the floor and get it moving up, without any help from a negative or anything else.
NOW, my question is--since the deadlift is so effective and brutal because it requires a lift with no stretch reflex, how practical would it be to REPLICATE the deadlift with the squat and bench by ELIMINATING the stretch reflex?
IE: put the squat bar in the power rack with the pins set low so that you must wedge yourself under the bar and start the squat from a "dead" position. lift,then set down on the pins and repeat.
IE: with the bench, set the pins very low so the bar is grazing your chest. lie on the bench under the bar, set up, and lift from the bottom position, and set the bar back on the pins. repeat.
obviously, it will be more difficult. my question is: why don't more people do this?
it seems like a very good way to make the lifts more challenging and productive!
however, a bit more fatigue will probably be produced from the "deadlift" bench and squat.
thoughts? :cheeky: