The classic Romanian deadlift using a barbell hits the muscles of the posterior chain: the low back, glutes, and hamstrings. And the dumbbell variation has some advantages over using a barbell. Dumbbell RDLs allow for a larger range of motion since there are no tall plates contacting the ground.
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What does barbell RDL work?
The Romanian deadlift (RDL) is a traditional barbell lift used to develop the strength of the posterior chain muscles, including the erector spinae, gluteus maximus, hamstrings and adductors. When done correctly, the RDL is an effective exercise that helps strengthen both the core and the lower body with one move.
Can you do RDLs with a barbell?
Formally known as the barbell Romanian deadlift, the barbell RDL is an essential exercise for building strength in your hamstrings and glutes. Not only will this exercise increase your lower body strength, it will help you prevent injury and improve your performance in other exercises.
How do you set up a barbell RDLs?

How do you feel RDLs in your butt?

Are RDLs or deadlifts better for glutes?
So what are the key differences between the deadlift vs. Romanian deadlift? The Romanian deadlift differs from the deadlift in that it starts from a standing position and engages more of the glutes and hamstrings. The deadlift starts from the bottom position and engages more of the quads and mid-back.
Is RDL harder than deadlift?
Romanian deadlifts are more difficult than standard deadlifts from the ground because your back and legs have to change the direction of the bar without a full stop on the ground and the focus is on the eccentric, making it a more hamstring, glute and lat focused exercise.
Are RDLS bad for your back?
It will cement poor movement patterns, which will also carry over into other lifts. It will weaken the posterior chain, leading to increased risk of injury and it will put unwanted strain on the lower back โ and all know what happens nextโฆ
Is it better to deadlift with dumbbells or barbell?
By using dumbbells to perform a deadlift, you can generally knock out reps with more tension on the target muscles and a greater range of motion. Although you may not use equally heavy loads as you would when lifting with a barbell, you can bust out more reps while keeping your muscles engaged the whole time.
Is RDLS back or leg exercise?
Yes, the Romanian deadlift is an effective exercise for building muscle in your back and lower body. The primary muscles worked in the Romanian deadlift are your lower back, glutes, and hamstrings. The secondary muscles worked in the Romanian deadlift are your adductors, trapezius, and grip.
Why does my back hurt after RDLS?

How many sets of RDLS should I do?
Repetitions can be best kept between 8-12 with moderate to heavy loads for a total of 3-5 sets, depending on the overall training volume of the program. Lifters must remember that time under tension, loading, total training volume (sets and reps), and muscular stretch all influence the metabolic demands on a muscle.
Do you squeeze your glutes during RDLS?
Engage your glutes, contract your hips, and drive back to the starting position, locking your hips out at the top. Exhale. You should feel a squeeze in your hips and quads as you lock them out.
Why don’t I feel during RDLS?

Which type of deadlift is best for glutes?
The Single Leg Deadlift This is a great exercise to target your glutes and it’s an effective one with or without weights. This is an exercise that’s done while you balance on a single leg. If you want a nice, balancing element to the lift, the single leg deadlift is the way to go.
Are RDLS more effective than squats?
The barbell hip thrust resulted in the highest muscle activity in the glutes and hamstrings, with the Romanian deadlift coming in second, and the squat third. Conversely, the squat resulted in the highest quadriceps muscle activity, with the hip thrust coming in second, and the Romanian deadlift third.
Should I do RDLS before squats?
If your goal is squat strengthโฆ If your goal is squat strength, it would make sense to prioritize your squats in training. Similar to building overall strength, you can still deadlift, however it’s is recommended to do so after main squat work and not before (like a few days before) hard squat sessions.
What is the hardest lift?
Basically the lift that is the toughest. For me, it is in order: deadlift, squat, overhead press, bench press. This is pretty close to the order of most weight moved. But bench press seems relatively easy compared to the other lifts.
Can you RDL twice a week?
Without getting into minimum effective dose and maximum safe dose debates, the RDL should be done twice a week for no less than three work sets to see viable changes. The Nordic hamstring curl, even if done with random program design, will get athletes better if they aren’t touching weights at all.
Are RDLS enough for hamstrings?
Researchers investigated the muscle activity of the hamstrings during the leg curl, good morning, glute-ham raise, and Romanian deadlift (RDL) and found that hamstring activity was maximized in the RDL and glute-ham raise.
Should lower back be sore after RDL?

Why are RDLS so hard?
Bending at the waist It is entirely possible to achieve 90ยบ or more of flexion at the trunk without any movement of the hips at all. However, bending in this way puts incredible stress on spinae erector muscles of the lower back, as well as compressing the hell out of the vertebrae and discs in the lumbar spine.
Can you do RDLS everyday?
Yes, you can deadlift almost every day, get stronger, and not get injured. Here’s how. A deadlift isn’t merely an expression of absolute strength, but a skill-based movement that takes considerable practice to hone and refine. As such, it’s a movement that can be performed daily in order to keep that pattern sharp.
What are benefits of deadlift?
- Activate your hip extensors. Deadlifts are among the best exercises for training your hip extensors.
- Reduce lower back pain.
- Improve jump performance.
- Improve bone mineral density.
- Activate your core.
- Boost your metabolism.
- Carry less risk during failed repetitions.
- Offer simplicity of equipment.
Should you wear a belt for RDLS?
With that being said I would never suggest doing secondary movements being used to build the deadlift with a belt. These movements include RDL’s and Stiff Legged Deadlifts.