Sumo Deads - Any knee considerations?

[Jim Ouini]

So I've switched over for awhile from conventional to sumo deadlifting for a few months now, actually throughout the entire 5 x 5 program up to my current week 8.

Last week I felt a tiny twinge in my right knee, nothing sharp or painful but more like a little pull, if you will.

Anyway, I was wondering if there's any fine points to the foot alignment in terms of stress on the knees i.e, is there more or less or a negligible amount of knee stress depending upon whether or not your feet are pointed forward, slightly flared out or significantly flared out?

My stance is about where the 2 lines are on the bar (like where lots of people grip for benching) and they're pointed out about 45degrees.

I read I"m supposed to 'push my knees out' on sumo deads, and since my next session I'm trying for a 3 x 3 max and possibly a single I want to be sure I"m on the safe side.

Thanks for any input.

 

[Jim Ouini]

I wore a neoprene wrap today to keep it warm. I don't think I needed it and probably negligible when I was deadlifting today.

 

[Illuminati]

check the sticky over in the PL forum

 

[Jim Ouini]

check the sticky over in the PL forum

Thanks!

The functional technique in the deadlift is different as well. The athlete pulling a conventional deadlift will push straight down with the feet, whereas in the sumo deadlift, the knees must be pushed out over the toes. This is important, to avoid lateral shear force on the knee, as well as the fact that it allows the lifter to engage the larger muscles of the hips earlier than in the conventional stance.

Could you elaborate a bit on 'pushing the knees out over the toes?'

Is this relating to start position with knees over the toes? Or is this an outward push of the kness during the lift?

Sorry for being dense but I definitely want to get to get it right and avoid the shear forces.

 

[musketeer]

yeah, consider not taking your patellas off when you lower the bar.