I'm trying to ascertain if my lower back is a weak point for me and my legs are strong, or that it is just that my deadlift technique is missing something.
I've been doing deadlifts once a week for about 6 weeks. I've built up to a maximum of 80kgs (176lbs), though yesterday I've been doing about 20 of these and 20 60kgs beforehand. I'm a beginner, but I do a lot of other exercises including squats and using the hamstring curl machine. I'm confident my legs are pretty strong.
As I have read, the deadlift uses most of your body and is a great compound exercise. Indeed the lift is from the power in the legs. However, my legs never ache after doing deadlifts, rather it is my mid to lower back.
I can lift the weight off the ground happily, putting the weight down is a problem and is when I feel a pull on my back - my knees are in the way. Should the bar be sliding down my thighs and over my knees, pressed against the skin?
So, after doing deadlifts should my legs ache the next day or just my back?