I'm not exactly sure what your deadlift problem is, and this doesn't necessarily apply as much if you're injured, so keep that in mind. I've had the problem of having bad technique then reading more on how to do a lift, lowering the weight, and working on technique, getting back to normal strength, then reading more about technique, lowering the weight, etc. It's good to improve technique, but this creates a vicious cycle and you'll never actually get stronger. When you have a technique problem you are correct in using lower weight, but incorrect in ONLY using lower weight. Here's my prescription for fixing bad form without compromising your strength: keep your current routine (whatever has been getting you strong) in place. Every deadlift workout (or even every lower body workout) add in 4-6 sets of 60%-75% deadlifts for 3-5 reps just for form work. These can be before or after your main work sets, and if necessary (it shouldn't be, but you never know) you can decrease some of your other assistance work in favor of these. It's really hard to keep volume constant and work on form and strength simultaneously, but the %s above shouldn't be that strenuous. Your work capacity should easily rise after a few weeks and any work you removed from your workout you will likely be able to add in again.
I was injured and have always had trouble keeping my back arched in the past. I just tweaked one or two things in my technique and the pain went away completely. I just have to make sure I'm 100% with the minor adjustments I made. Right now I'm at 90% of PR strength. Thanks for the advice, it seems to make a lot of sense -- I'll keep up with that and hopefully hit PR's during the next meet.
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I'm not exactly sure what your deadlift problem is, and this doesn't necessarily apply as much if you're injured, so keep that in mind. I've had the problem of having bad technique then reading more on how to do a lift, lowering the weight, and working on technique, getting back to normal strength, then reading more about technique, lowering the weight, etc. It's good to improve technique, but this creates a vicious cycle and you'll never actually get stronger. When you have a technique problem you are correct in using lower weight, but incorrect in ONLY using lower weight. Here's my prescription for fixing bad form without compromising your strength: keep your current routine (whatever has been getting you strong) in place. Every deadlift workout (or even every lower body workout) add in 4-6 sets of 60%-75% deadlifts for 3-5 reps just for form work. These can be before or after your main work sets, and if necessary (it shouldn't be, but you never know) you can decrease some of your other assistance work in favor of these. It's really hard to keep volume constant and work on form and strength simultaneously, but the %s above shouldn't be that strenuous. Your work capacity should easily rise after a few weeks and any work you removed from your workout you will likely be able to add in again.
This can be applied to any lift, actually.
I was injured and have always had trouble keeping my back arched in the past. I just tweaked one or two things in my technique and the pain went away completely. I just have to make sure I'm 100% with the minor adjustments I made. Right now I'm at 90% of PR strength. Thanks for the advice, it seems to make a lot of sense -- I'll keep up with that and hopefully hit PR's during the next meet.
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