Effect of Deadlift Training on Core Strength in Previously-Untrained Males

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a heavy compound exercise, in this case the deadlift, on core strength as determined through the 1-RM deadlift and the Bunkie test. The deadlift is a multi-joint movement that involves picking up a barbell from the floor and standing up to the erect position. This movement includes plenty of muscle activation, mainly the lower back, upper back, quadriceps, hamstrings, and abdominals. The core is a collection of muscles in the abdominal and lower back areas although it is commonly mistaken as simply the abdominal muscles. This study investigated the effect of deadlift training on core strength through a pretest–posttest comparison of significant differences specifically in the 1-RM deadlift and the Bunkie test for core strength. Twenty-one (21) previously-untrained male college students participated in a 5-week deadlift strength program using progressive overload with no direct core training involved. Two t-tests for dependent means were used for comparison of
the pretest and posttest scores, and significant differences were evaluated for effect size using Cohen’s d. All results were tested for significance at α = 0.05. The 5-week deadlift program resulted in significant increases in both the 1-RM deadlift, derived from the Brzycki formula, and Bunkie test scores most notably in the posterior stabilizing line and the medial stabilizing line. Deadlift strength training, even without direct core training, leads to significant improvements in core strength in previously-untrained
male college students.