Exercise Library / Legs

Sumo Deadlifts

How to do the Sumo Deadlifts with proper form, and the muscles it works.

Muscle group
Legs
Primary muscles
Hamstrings
Secondary muscles
Adductors, forearms, glutes, lower back, middle back, quadriceps and traps
Equipment
Barbell
Type
Compound
Level
Intermediate

Video: “How To Correctly Perform A Sumo Deadlift” by PureGym on YouTube.

How to do the Sumo Deadlifts

  1. Begin with a bar loaded on the ground. Approach the bar so that the bar intersects the middle of the feet. The feet should be set very wide, near the collars. Bend at the hips to grip the bar. The arms should be directly below the shoulders, inside the legs, and you can use a pronated grip, a mixed grip, or hook grip. Relax the shoulders, which in effect lengthens your arms.
  2. Take a breath, and then lower your hips, looking forward with your head with your chest up. Drive through the floor, spreading your feet apart, with your weight on the back half of your feet. Extend through the hips and knees.
  3. As the bar passes through the knees, lean back and drive the hips into the bar, pulling your shoulder blades together.
  4. Return the weight to the ground by bending at the hips and controlling the weight on the way down.

Muscles worked

The Sumo Deadlifts mainly works your hamstrings, with help from your adductors, forearms, glutes, lower back, middle back, quadriceps and traps.

Sumo Deadlifts start and finish positions

Sumo Deadlifts: Starting position
Starting position
Sumo Deadlifts: Ending position
Ending position

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