Typically the deadlift is the most amount of weight a person is going to lift on any barbell movement, Since the load on deadlift can be so heavy in a compound movement there are many things that can go wrong.  Specifically the upper back not being able to sustain a load that the lower back  glutes and quad can.  Watching most powerlifters this tell tale strength/mechanical deficit is adopted in  max effort pulls.

A lot of times “would be lifters” eyes and or pride are a bit bigger than their spinal integrity.   We have all been cursed by pride at one time in our lives.  The problem with a strength deficit for upper back posture is that it will play into lower back posture and create a domino effect vertebra by vertebra.    This will also happen in back squat though not always the same issue, but you will see the shoulders round forward the elbow flare back in most failures on back squat. The weight tends to go on the toe because of upper body posture.   Suffice it to say the top of the deadlift is the area where the upper back is at it’s most mechanically advantageous position.  After you travel over the knee you will often witness the shoulders protract as the bar moves more outside the body into the least advantageous position.

Approaching this situation “Kusian Deadliftnomics” pun intended theorizes that the best way to correct the deficit is top down vs bottom up.  Looking at similar nature of olympic movements it can be inferred that utilizing top down progression would be beneficial for snatch and clean when mechanics are lacking.   More to come…