5 Exercises to Stay Strong Without Heavy Deadlifts | Dr Stuart McGill & Andrew Huberman

Do you need heavy deadlifts to stay strong? In this conversation from the Huberman Lab podcast, Dr. Stuart McGill and Andrew Huberman discuss five exercise options and why the right choice depends on your goals, age, physical capacity, and back-pain history. From backward uphill walking to split squats and step-ups, the discussion explores different ways to approach strength training. McGill also shares his perspective on athletic performance, balance as you age, recovery, and progressing heavy lifting. 🔔 Subscribe to the channel for more elite fitness breakdowns and sports science updates In this video you'll learn: - Why deadlifts can be useful without being the right exercise for everyone. - McGill's backward-and-forward uphill walking approach. - Where glute-ham raises fit, and why they aren't a direct deadlift replacement. - How rear-leg-elevated split squats, goblet squats, and single-leg step-ups fit different training goals. - Why recovery, lifting technique, and progression matter when choosing how to train. These are exercise options discussed in the podcast, not a one-size-fits-all program or a recommendation for everyone to stop deadlifting. For education only. Not personalized medical or rehabilitation advice. If you want to optimize your workout splits, manage fatigue, and ensure lifelong joint longevity, make sure to like, comment your current training split below, and subscribe!🔔 MUSIC FROM @Infraction www.youtube.com/@Infraction Atlantis by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ podcast clip from @hubermanlab Build a Strong, Pain-Proof Back | Dr. Stuart McGill https://youtu.be/mAlt_HKX4as?si=ensdSBeuiKzabwvu Timestamps 0:00 intro 2:37 Backward Uphill Walking 3:22 Huberman Asks About Glute-Ham Raises 4:02 Deadlifts, Back Pain and Athletic Performance 7:46 Rear-Foot-Elevated Split Squats 8:25 Goblet Squats and Exercise Selection 9:00 Single-Leg Step-Ups and Balance 10:25 Belt Squats: Brian Carroll’s Training Example 11:02 Deadlift Technique and Back Injuries 12:19 Why Lifting Progression Matters Fair Use Disclaimer 1. Under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, commenting, news reporting, teaching, scholarship and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. 2. We do not own the rights to all content. They have, in accordance with fair use, been repurposed with the intent of educating and inspiring others. We must state that in no way, shape or form are we intending to infringe rights of the copyright holder. 3. Content used is strictly for research and education, all under the Fair Use law. #StuartMcGill #AndrewHuberman #StrengthTraining #BackHealth #Longevity