Deadlifts are often treated as a foundational movement, but for most people they come with hidden costs.

Most bodies already have some degree of spinal twist. Loading a heavy hinge on top of that twist doesn’t correct it, it reinforces it. Over time, this leads to increased spinal compression and deeper asymmetries that can show up as pain or injury down the line.

Deadlifts also fall short when it comes to hip stability. They don’t train transverse torsion, which is what actually stabilizes the hips during multi directional movement like running. The result is a pattern that compresses certain areas excessively while leaving others, especially the hips, underprepared and unstable.