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Rest → load, working range

Joint angles · start → finish

Torso
4.0° → 54.0°
Hip
14.0° → 86.0°
Knee
12.0° → 18.0°
Shoulder
22.0° → 30.0°
Elbow
14.0° → 16.0°
Neck
-2.0° → -2.0°

Strength

Romanian Deadlift

4 × 8, hinge to mid-shin, hamstrings loaded, spine neutral.

Difficulty 3 of 55.4 METs · Moderate

Equipment

  • Barbell

Muscle groups worked

  • Glutes
  • Core

What it buys you

Builds the posterior chain that holds a hinged position without the lower back taking over.

Capacity trained

Strength. Posterior chain and trunk endurance under load. Holds position without fatigue or compensation.

Energy

Modelled kilocalories

Modelled energy cost for Romanian Deadlift at 10, 20, 30 and 45 minutes for both reference bodies
Reference body10 min20 min30 min45 min
Male reference · 82 kg77 kcal155 kcal232 kcal349 kcal
Female reference · 68 kg64 kcal129 kcal193 kcal289 kcal

Energy figures are modelled from standard activity MET values (Ainsworth Compendium, 2011) and the ACSM equation, not measured on you. They scale linearly with your own body mass, so a body 10% heavier burns about 10% more at the same intensity.

kcal = METs × 3.5 × bodyweight(kg) ÷ 200 × minutes (ACSM)

Load is effort, not pain. If a movement hurts rather than works, stop and see a clinician. Lifting another person is strength training with a person-shaped load — build the pattern unloaded first.

Cross-reference

Positions this workout helps · 45

It serves Prone Base, Kneeling, Elevated / Bridged and Lifted / Carried. Every position in those families is listed below, hardest first.

Honest framing

Training makes a posture available and sustainable. It is capability work, not a treatment for anything, and no single session changes a number. Consistency over eight weeks does.

Free PQ assessment · 6 min

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