In Brief:
The deadlift is a widely used exercise for increasing strength, while also reducing the risk of knee injury and low back pain. Under proper instruction, the deadlift and its variations can be successfully performed by novice and advanced lifters alike. When choosing which deadlift variation to use, muscle involvement, anthropometrics, and comfort should all be considered. Although each has its advantages, it is important to remember that resistance exercise is not a short-term activity but a lifestyle behavior. Choose the exercise that optimally achieves predetermined goals but can also interchange deadlift variations to avoid plateaus and staleness in training.
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