In the collegiate strength and conditioning setting, that's a common response to the deadlift. Even with a laundry list of cues – keep your chest up, sit back with your hips, pull the slack out of the bar, etc. – athletes will still have issues with the deadlift. The potential culprit? Sacroiliac joint issues and a lack of spinal rigidity.
So squeeze your glutes and take a breath in with the belly before you lift the bar.
Why? A couple reasons:
These simple cues can take athletes from back pain and frustration to feeling great and setting PRs.