Deadlift vs Back Extension

Maximizing Your Back Workout Plan

Contents

Deadlift works multiple joints at once, Back Extension isolates — difficulty 4 of 5 vs 2. See which fits your Back day.

Customize Your Back Workout: Explore the Benefits of Deadlift and Back Extension for Better Comparison.

Planfit Users' Choice about Deadlift vs Back Extension : Which is Better?

Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Deadlift more often — 15,439 sessions compared to 6,173 for Back Extension.

Popularity is not the whole answer. Deadlift and Back Extension differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.

How Deadlift and Back Extension Differ

What differsDeadliftBack Extension
Equipmenta barbellbodyweight only
Difficulty4 of 52 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users15,439 sessions6,173 sessions

Related comparisons

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How to Deadlift

Deadlift gif

Deadlift muscles worked: Back

Form

  1. 1. Move your hips back while lifting the barbell forward.
  2. 2. Push against the floor and apply pressure to the center of your feet.
  3. 3. When you are fully upright, puff out your chest and contract your entire back.
  4. 4. Move your hips back again and bend your knees to return to the starting position.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Please keep your chest open so that your shoulders do not hunch forward.
  2. 2. Engage your core to prevent your lower back from rounding.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Deadlift, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Deadlift Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Deadlift methods?Exercise Guide

How to Back Extension

Back Extension gif

Back Extension muscles worked: Back

Form

  1. 1. Please lower down by bending your hips while keeping your chest open.
  2. 2. Engage your core and come up by extending your hips.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Please be careful not to relax your core throughout the exercise.
  2. 2. Please keep your chest open to avoid rounding your back.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Back Extension, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Back Extension Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Back Extension methods?Exercise Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Back, Deadlift or Back Extension?

Planfit users log Deadlift more often — 15,439 sessions against 6,173 for Back Extension. Both train Back, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.

What equipment do Deadlift and Back Extension need?

Deadlift needs a barbell, and Back Extension needs bodyweight only.

Which is easier to start with?

Back Extension is the easier place to start. Move to Deadlift once your form holds up.

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