This might be the stupidest question, but I was once told that if you don't know something, chances are someone else may not, either. Is there a difference between deadlifts and stiff-legged deadlifts? And if there is, what is it? I was sifting through workouts online and found a woman was training with deadlifts on her back day and then taking one day off and doing stiff-legged deadlifts on her leg day. I can't seem to find any difference when I read the description on how to perform them. Just wanted to clarify!!

Deadlifts are performed with bent legs and are use for thickness in the middle of your back and some lats and obviously you will feel it in your lower back. Straight-legged are exactly what they say, you keep your legs straight and with the emphasis being on hamstrings, but you will also feel it in your lower back. Because of this I usually do them on different weeks. If you do reg ones do diff types of hammy's and vice versa. Hope that helps.

Stiff leg

Deadlift

There's quite a bit of difference. The deadlift is similar to a squat in that your knees are totally parallel to the ground.

Stiff-leg is not really stiff legged, but the knees will have a slight bend, back will remain straight. The bar is to be very close the to body.

I would put several days between these lifts. It may be ok if you're young, but the older, recovery is not that easy.

Thank you both so much. Thanks especially, Frank, for the link with the clips that show both moves. I appreciate all of the help you guys give, here! Best wishes to you =]

Stiff leg deads...you are training primarily the portion of the hamstrings closest to the buttock area (the proximal portion of the muscle). When doing this exercise, the hamstrings pull the pelvis "down and back" which brings your trunk up to a standing position.

Regular deads...for this exercise you are usig the entire hamstring group (3 muscles) a little more and you are training the muscles at both ends because your peldis is rotating back and down and your knees are flexing and extending. A lot of eccentric lenghtening of the hamstrings on the way down if you go slow and controlled.