Squats = deadlifts?

[twang]

Are squats and deadlifts (the standard deadlift, not the stiff leg version) interchangeable for working out legs/back?

[zPro]

Squats are a pushing exercise and mainly work your quads.
Deadlifts are a pulling exercise and work your hamstrings and lower back.
Do both.

[wdead]

They are the two most important lifts you can do. Do both.

[G_Dollaz]

[ QUOTE ]
They are the two most important lifts you can do. Do both.

[/ QUOTE ]

[bonds25]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
They are the two most important lifts you can do. Do both.

[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]

[Dan BRIGHT]

They do lower back and help strengthen your stabalizers but if you want big/strong back muscles there are better exercises for your back alone - things like bent over rows, bet over one arm rows, etc

[skunkworks]

They are somewhat interchangeable -- some people with back problems may go with deadlifts exclusively because it causes less pain. That being said, they really are the two most important lifts and you should do both if you can.

[someday]

if for some reason you were unable to squat, then yes the deadlift is the next best thing.

Look into "trap bar deadlift", "sumo deadlift" "stiffleg deadlift"

Stewart McRoberts books, BEYOND BRAWN, and his book on excercise technique are must reads imo.

[Blarg]

[ QUOTE ]
They do lower back and help strengthen your stabalizers but if you want big/strong back muscles there are better exercises for your back alone - things like bent over rows, bet over one arm rows, etc

[/ QUOTE ]

Those target different muscles -- the broad muscle high on the back that gives you the V shape is the latissimus dorsi. You work that with the rows, and can get some trapezius involvement.

The deadlifts target the lower back and the support muscles in the midsection and ribs, the hamstrings, and can put some moderate strain on the glutes and quads, depending on how you do them. They don't target the lats, which act merely to help stabilize the load a little.

[Blarg]

To me, the deadlift is even better than the squat, but then muscle mass is not a big goal of mine. Functional strength is, and deads provide that in spades. And it also causes a huge release of HGH/testosterone very easily.