Focus on pushing, not pulling

Instead of concentrating on picking up the bar, focus on pushing away from the floor. “Breathe, brace your core, pull your hips down and push the floor away with your feet to stand upright,” says Klaudia Lucia, Barry’s UK trainer. “This will ensure your whole body is performing the deadlift, rather than just your legs or back.

Scrape the barbell down your shins

“Keep the bar close to your legs as you slowly lower down – imagine you’re scraping the barbell down your shins. This will help you stay controlled and maintain your strong deadlift position.”

You could also try “taking the slack out of the bar before you lift,” says James Dabbs, founder of Dabbs Fitness. “This means tension is created before you lift the bar off the floor and helps you remain tight in your torso and activated, reducing the possibility of your hips shooting up, which can put stress on your lower back. You should be fully engaged before you start lifting the bar.”

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