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Muscle map Deadlift

Muscles worked in deadlift

The deadlift is a hip hinge: your glutes and hamstrings drive the hips forward while the lower back holds the spine rigid. Almost everything else works to keep the bar close and your grip locked.

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Primary Secondary

Deadlift: primary and secondary muscles

Primary muscles

  • Glutes: gluteus maximus, the main hip extensor
  • Hamstrings: back of the thigh, which extends the hip and bends the knee
  • Lower Back: erector spinae, which keep the spine extended under load

Secondary muscles

  • Quads: front of the thigh, which straightens the knee
  • Adductors: inner thigh muscles that pull the legs together and help drive out of the hole
  • Traps: trapezius, which shrugs and stabilises the shoulder blades
  • Upper Back: rhomboids, mid traps and rear delts, which pull the shoulder blades together
  • Lats: latissimus dorsi, which pull the arms down and back
  • Forearms: grip and wrist muscles
  • Abs: rectus abdominis, the "six-pack" that braces your trunk

Form cues & reel idea

Form cues

  • Bar over mid-foot, shins close
  • Pull the slack out of the bar before it leaves the floor
  • Push the floor away, then drive the hips through

Film it for Reels

Film side-on at hip height so the bar path and lockout read clearly, then drop the back-view muscle map in a corner.

Try the muscle map sticker

General fitness information, not medical advice. If something hurts, stop and ask a qualified coach or physio.

Deadlift: FAQ

What muscles does the deadlift work?

Deadlift mainly works the glutes, hamstrings and lower back. The quads, adductors, traps, upper back, lats, forearms and abs assist and stabilise.

How do I show the muscles worked in my deadlift video?

In ZapZoop, add a Muscle Map sticker, tap the glutes, hamstrings and lower back in one colour and the helpers in another, then place it on your clip. Film side-on at hip height so the bar path and lockout read clearly, then drop the back-view muscle map in a corner.

Map your deadlift on video

Highlight the muscles you trained and post it in up to 4K.

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