Stiff-Legged Barbell Deadlift
A intermediate compound movement that trains the hamstrings with a barbell.
Force Type
Pull
compound
Difficulty
Intermediate
compound
Variations
4
equipment swaps
Muscles
3
primary + secondary
The verdict
Stiff-Legged Barbell Deadlift has 5-step instructions, among the most thoroughly documented of the 79 hamstrings exercises PlainExercise catalogues.
Ranked against the 79 hamstrings exercises PlainExercise currently catalogues, not the full exercise-science literature.
Catalog lens
Two ways this record sits in the source corpus
These are placement measures for the documented record, not a score for exercise quality, safety, or suitability.
Instruction steps
#344 of 868
5 numbered source steps; the longest instruction list ranks #1.
Instruction text
#266 of 868
A separate character-length placement prevents step count from standing in for explanatory detail.
Stiff-Legged Barbell Deadlift is a intermediate compound movement that trains the Hamstrings along with glutes and lower back. It requires a barbell. There are 4 known variations and 8 peer exercises that target the same primary muscle.
- 4 equipment variations documented
- 1 of 9 exercises targeting the Hamstrings
- Level: intermediate
PlainExercise cross-links 4 variations and 8 peer exercises sharing the same primary muscle.
What the Stiff-Legged Barbell Deadlift Data Reveals · DEEP · PULL/COMPOUND
Stiff-Legged Barbell Deadlift opens on force profile: a PULL compound pattern for hamstrings on a barbell, force direction is the first filter on this mid-level record.
Among 873 exercises, 5 steps sit in the upper third (≥ 5). Longer step lists usually mean finer setup cues, not a harder movement by themselves.
Stiff-Legged Barbell Deadlift is classified as a intermediate-level compound movement with a pull force profile, primarily training the Hamstrings with secondary engagement of the glutes, lower back. The canonical form requires a barbell in the strength category. Within the hamstrings cohort, 9 catalogued movements share the primary target; 4 equipment variations are mapped for Stiff-Legged Barbell Deadlift.
Context matters: taxonomy (level, mechanic, force, musculature, equipment) does not account for individual biomechanics, joint history, or recovery. Common-mistake framing below is derived from classification fields, not case-specific coaching. Not medical or personal-training advice. Consult a physician or certified trainer before starting, especially with injuries, cardiovascular conditions, recent surgery, or pregnancy.
Exercise profile
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | intermediate |
| Mechanic | compound |
| Force | pull |
| Equipment | barbell |
| Category | strength |
| Primary muscle | Hamstrings |
| Secondary muscles | 2 |
| Variations available | 4 |
Source: Free Exercise DB (CC0); profile derived per exercise record.
Stiff-Legged Barbell Deadlift catalog footprint
Among 79 exercises whose primary muscle is hamstrings, Stiff-Legged Barbell Deadlift ranks #1 by catalogued variation count (4 listed heres). The upstream file attaches 2 images to this slug. See the step-count ranking for hamstrings for peer documentation depth.
Muscles worked
According to the Free Exercise DB classification, Stiff-Legged Barbell Deadlift trains the hamstrings as the prime mover, with 2 muscles assisting. The source classifies muscles as primary or secondary, it does not measure activation, so we show involvement, not percentages.
Source: Free Exercise DB primary/secondary muscle classification. Involvement, not measured activation, actual recruitment varies by load and form.
Intensity context
For reference, here is where common activities sit on the MET intensity scale. Stiff-Legged Barbell Deadlift does not have a measured MET in the source data, its intensity depends on the load and effort you use. Estimate calories for any activity with the calorie calculator.
MET values from the Compendium of Physical Activities (Ainsworth et al., 2011). A general reference scale, not a rating of this specific movement.
How to do it
- Grasp a bar using an overhand grip (palms facing down). You may need some wrist wraps if using a significant amount of weight.
- Stand with your torso straight and your legs spaced using a shoulder width or narrower stance. The knees should be slightly bent. This is your starting position.
- Keeping the knees stationary, lower the barbell to over the top of your feet by bending at the hips while keeping your back straight. Keep moving forward as if you were going to pick something from the floor until you feel a stretch on the hamstrings. Inhale as you perform this movement.
- Start bringing your torso up straight again by extending your hips until you are back at the starting position. Exhale as you perform this movement.
- Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Stiff-Legged Barbell Deadlift Documentation Depth
Stiff-Legged Barbell Deadlift carries 5-step instructions (788 characters of Free Exercise DB text) - enough upstream detail to compare documentation depth inside the hamstrings cohort, not just the taxonomy badges above. Across 79 catalogued hamstrings movements, the average instruction record is 621 characters and 3.9 steps; 41 of those (51.9%) clear the same ≥500-character rich bar used here. This page ranks #20 of 79 by instruction-character length (1.27× the cohort average).
The assistant set lists 2 secondary muscles (glutes, lower back). That multi-muscle footprint is part of why a long instruction record matters: sparse Free-Exercise-DB stubs often stop at a one-line cue and never name the assistants, so their pages stay short by construction.
Among the 170 exercises that also use a barbell, average instruction length is 896 characters; 93 of those peers are longer than this record. Equipment-matched peers are the honest comparison when you are choosing a substitute implement for the same pattern.
Other well-documented hamstrings movements (same ≥500-character bar):
- Power Clean (24 steps, 3,264 chars)
- Clean (6 steps, 1,688 chars)
- Power Clean from Blocks (5 steps, 1,423 chars)
- Split Snatch (6 steps, 1,289 chars)
- Power Snatch (5 steps, 1,116 chars)
Common mistakes
- Rushing through reps, controlled tempo (2-3s down, 1-2s up) is what drives muscle tension on Stiff-Legged Barbell Deadlift, not raw speed.
- Cutting the range of motion short - moving the hamstrings through its full safe range on Stiff-Legged Barbell Deadlift is what most reliably separates effective reps from wasted ones.
- Treating a compound lift like an isolation movement - Stiff-Legged Barbell Deadlift recruits multiple joints; bracing the core and engaging stabilizers matters as much as the prime movers.
- Shrugging the shoulders up toward the ears on pull movements, keep shoulder blades down and back to load the correct muscles.
- Breathing out of sync with the lift on Stiff-Legged Barbell Deadlift - brace and inhale during the lowering phase, exhale on the exertion, especially important with a barbell where control matters most.
Who this is for
- People with 6+ months of consistent training who can perform basic compound lifts with good form
- People who want to train the Hamstrings and secondarily glutes, lower back
- People who have access to a barbell
Who this is NOT for
- Anyone with acute pain in the joints or muscles involved, pain is a stop signal, not a soreness signal
- People with unresolved injuries in the loaded joints, seek clearance from a physical therapist first
- Anyone with a recent surgery, cardiovascular limitation, or pregnancy complication without physician clearance
Progression path
Once Stiff-Legged Barbell Deadlift feels comfortable with your current load, progress by (a) adding reps until you can complete 12+ per set, (b) increasing resistance by 2.5-5%, (c) moving to harder variations such as single-limb or longer lever versions, and eventually (d) stepping up to expert-level movements that train the same muscle.
See the Progression guide for a full framework on when to advance, and the Compound vs Isolation guide to decide when to prioritize this movement in your program.
Safety notes · BARBELL · PULL/COMPOUND · MID
- Intermediate PULL/COMPOUND: warm up mobility matching hamstrings before Stiff-Legged Barbell Deadlift with a barbell.
- Sharp or joint pain is a stop signal. Muscle soreness during sets is normal; pain is not.
- Adjust sets, reps, and rest to recovery; 5 upstream steps are a template, not a prescription.
- General information only. Consult a physician or certified trainer before starting any new exercise program.
Variations
Alternate versions of this movement with different equipment.
Nationwide exercises with similar documentation depth
Two Free Exercise DB peer sets for Stiff-Legged Barbell Deadlift, drawn across all muscles (not the hamstrings-only related list below). Each metric produces a different neighborhood.
Similar instruction step count
Nearest catalog records by numbered steps (5 here).
Similar instruction text length
Nearest catalog records by upstream instruction characters (788 here).
Related exercises
Other exercises that target the Hamstrings.
See all Hamstrings exercises.
Using the stiff-legged barbell deadlift
A intermediate compound movement for the hamstrings - here's how to put it to work.
- Train the hamstrings 2–3 times a week with 48+ hours between hard sets; pair this with other hamstrings movements for balanced development. All hamstrings exercises
- No barbell? 4 documented variations swap the implement without changing the movement pattern. See variations
- As a compound lift, this trains several muscles at once, anchor your session around it before isolation work. Compound vs isolation
Form before load. If a movement causes sharp or joint pain, stop and substitute a safer alternative, this is general information, not medical or training advice.