The Deadlift Vs squat. Which is better? The debate will go on forever with this one. The deadlift and the squat are without doubt the two best compound exercises you can perform to add quality muscle mass to your frame with the bench press coming a close third. In this article we will look at both the benefits and drawbacks of both compound exercises and let you draw your own comparison on which one is really better, the deadlift…. or the squat.
Deadlift Vs Squat – Major Muscle Groups Worked During The Deadlift
- Back (Lower Back and Upper back to a lesser extent)
- Legs (hamstrings, quadriceps, calves to a lesser extent)
- Glutes
- Forearms
- Traps
Deadlift Vs Squat – Major Muscle Groups Worked During The Squat
- Back (Lower Back)
- Legs (hamstrings, quadriceps, calves to a lesser extent)
- Glutes
Both the deadlift and the squat are very similar exercises and as you can see work very similar muscle groups. One difference the squat has over the deadlift is that it will not help you develop a tight and powerful grip. Since the bar sits on your back during the squat you don’t need to hold the full weight of the bar in your hands throughout the whole movement. This takes your forearms out of the equation.
The squat on the other hand may have a slight advantage when it comes to the amount of time your muscles are under tension. Lowering your body down and squatting back up places your muscles under a lot of tension. Most muscle groups are stimulated just to steady the body and keep your form tight. Some will argue more so than the deadlift.
Another key factor people take into consideration when trying to compare the deadlift and squat is the sport you play. Sport specific training would therefore be important and if one exercise will improve your performance more than the other then it makes sense to use the most effective one. Although both exercises work similar muscle groups the motion and movement is different.
