Squat and Deadlift Same Day: Right or Wrong?

Squat and deadlift same day is a question that gets thrown around the gym all the time. Both are compound exercises as they involve several muscle groups in one single movement, making them perfect for gaining strength and size. With the countless benefits of squatting and deadlifting, it can be difficult to know where both exercises should fit into your routine.

So, should these exercises be separated, or can you do squat and deadlift same day?

Can You Do Squats and Deadlifts On The Same Day?

It’s possible to include a squat and deadlift workout in your training program, but it’s best to first take a moment to see if it will be beneficial for your goals. Both of these compound exercises are taxing, recruiting large muscle groups to complete the movement. This requires a considerable amount of effort, along with focus and stability.

Completing squats and deadlifts on the same day can be a lot for your body to handle, especially if you’re a beginner in the early days of your gym journey. Performing heavy sets of squats, followed by heavy deadlifts, will likely fatigue you quickly. This means you may not perform the second exercise as well as you could have if you were to tackle it on another day.

If you’re set on including squats and deadlifts on the same day, it’s best to lift less weight than you typically would with these exercises. Lifting lighter means you are more likely to have better form throughout every repetition, rather than being too fatigued to complete each exercise safely and effectively.

3 Potential Risks Of Doing Squats and Deadlifts On The Same Day

Many ask ‘can you deadlift and squat on the same day’ and the short answer is yes, but there are some risks worth being aware of before you include both exercises in the same training session. These risks can be minimized by lowering weight, and keeping an eye on how your body feels when performing each exercise.

1. Increased Injury Risk

Squats and deadlifts require the use of diverse muscle groups, targeting various parts of the body. When included in the same training session, this means a substantial amount of the body is being used, which can cause fatigue, leading to potential loss of focus and an increased injury risk.

2. Poor Performance With Second Exercise

As deadlifts and squats are compound movements, they harness energy from multiple areas. You will have far more energy when completing the first exercise as you will be fresh and ready to kickstart your session. After completing a tough final set, however, your energy will be depleted, and this may lead to a poor performance with the second exercise.

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3. Low Energy For Rest Of Workout

Squat and deadlift same day can result in low energy for the rest of your workout. Whether you planned on doing a cardio finisher, or a quickfire core workout at the end of your session, you may not have enough energy in the tank! When we have low energy, and begin to feel tired, it can be easy to lose focus and let form slip, so this is something to be mindful of when doing deadlifts and squats on the same day.

Tips From the Champ

Adding a finisher to a workout is a great way to shake up your training and give yourself a challenge. If you plan on completing a finisher, it may be best to choose a session where you aren’t doing both squats and deadlifts, as this will substantially affect your energy levels.

Oleksiy Torokhtiy

Olympic Weightlifting Champion

3 Benefits Of Doing Squats and Deadlifts On The Same Day

Alongside looking at the risks of doing squats and deadlifts on the same day, it’s wise to keep things balanced and assess the benefits too. By exploring both sides of the story when it comes to deadlift and squat same day, you can better work out if including both in one session is the right decision for you.

✅ Ideal For Hypertrophy

Many factors influence hypertrophy such as training volume and intensity, so performing squats and deadlifts on the same day can have a positive effect. Although both exercises include different movements, they use similar muscles in the back, glutes, and legs. Completing a squat and deadlift workout means activating these muscles and pushing them hard, which increases the training volume.

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✅ Warm For Second Exercise

Getting the body efficiently warmed up can be beneficial for exercise performance, so completely both in the same workout means you’ll be warmed up for the second exercise. This allows you to spend less time getting your body warmed up, as your muscles will be ready to hit the bar. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t complete a few exercise-specific warm-up movements though, as it’s still wise to get the body and mind in focus for the way it has to move for different exercises.

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✅ Time Efficient

Some days, it can be hard to find a substantial chunk of time to dedicate to the gym. Time efficient workout can be your best friend, especially on days when you have a limited time to get in, lift, and get out of the gym! Many ask ‘should you squat and deadlift on the same day’; if you have a limited gap to train, working out in this way will save you time whilst delivering results and progress too.

How To Perform Both Squats and Deadlifts Safely The Same Day?

Performing deadlift and squat same day can be a valid way of training, but it’s important to adjust the weight you’re lifting to minimize injury risk and ensure you have enough energy to complete the second exercise correctly and effectively.

On a day when you’re doing squats and deadlifts together, be sure to lower the weight you’d normally lift when doing the exercises separately. This will account for muscle fatigue and overall reduced energy levels so you can get the most from both movements.

Workout 1 – Lower Body

Optional Core Finisher:

Set a timer for 5 minutes and complete this ab sculpting core finisher. When completing each exercise, ensure you’re making the mind-to-muscle connection and engaging your core throughout. This will help you feel the movements more in your abs instead of straining your lower back.

Workout 2 – Lower Body

Optimal HIIT Finisher:

Getting the heart working hard and pumping blood around the body is great for cardiovascular health. HIIT workouts are typically fast-paced short workouts to get you pushing the last bit of energy you have into your training session. Set a timer for 10 minutes and complete this finisher if you think you’re up for the challenge!

FAQ

Should You Deadlift After Squat?

As deadlifts may result in more activation in the back than squats, it’s best to squat first and deadlift second. Ideally, you don’t want your back muscles to be too fatigued before squatting, as it’s imperative to squat with correct form and technique to minimize injury risk. It boils down to fatigue and personal ability, but the most important thing to remember is to lift safely, as compound movements such as deadlifts and squats require an abundance of focus, concentration, and energy.

Can I Skip Squats If I Deadlift?

Squats and deadlifts each have different benefits, targeting diverse muscles with some overlaps in the back and lower body. With many variations of both exercises, it’s wise to incorporate both into your workout routine to get the most out of the movements. A squat and deadlift workout can be completed safely and efficiently given a reduction in the weight lifted.

Is Squatting and Deadlifting Twice A Week Too Much?

Depending on your goals and ability, squatting and deadlifting twice a week can be effective to include in your training plan. Recovery time is vital for all sports, and resistance training is no exception! You need to give your body time to rest and recover after sessions, so try and leave a couple of days in between squatting and deadlifting to rest your muscles and see better results in your sessions.

Conclusion

Should you squat and deadlift on the same day is a topic I always hear talked about, and there are a range of risks and benefits to consider. Including squat and deadlift on same day can be advantageous for hypertrophy, but lowering weight and adjusting rep ranges will help save energy to complete the second exercise with good form.

Do you complete squats and deadlifts on the same day? Or do you separate both exercises throughout your weekly sessions?

Also Read:

• Squat or Deadlift First: What Is the Ideal Sequence?
• Why Is My Deadlift So Weak? 6 Reasons & Solutions
• 7 Deadlift Progressions For Improved Technique & PR
• Best Deadlift Cues for Improved Form and Result
• How Often Should You Deadlift For Optimal Results?
• Deadlift Everyday – To Lift or Not to Lift?
• 6 Day Olympic Weightlifting Program
• 2 Day Olympic Weightlifting Program

Referenses:

1. Michal Krzysztofik, Michal Wilk, Grzegorz Wojdala, and Artur Golaś, “Maximizing Muscle Hypertrophy: A Systematic Review of Advanced Resistance Training Techniques and Methods”, National Center For Biotechnology Information, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6950543/, (Accessed February 8 2024)
2. Sébastien Racinais, Scott Cocking, and Julien D. Périard, “Sports and environmental temperature: From warming-up to heating-up”, National Center For Biotechnology Information, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5605167/ (Accessed February 8 2024)
3. Federico Nigro and Sandro Bartolomei, “A Comparison Between the Squat and the Deadlift for Lower Body Strength and Power Training”, National Center For Biotechnology Information, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7386153/ (Accessed February 8 2024)
4. Gregory D. Myer, Adam M. Kushner, Jensen L. Brent, Brad J. Schoenfeld, Jason Hugentobler, Rhodri S. Lloyd, Al Vermeil, Donald A. Chu, Jason Harbin, and Stuart McGill, “The back squat: A proposed assessment of functional deficits and technical factors that limit performance”, National Center For Biotechnology Information, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4262933/ (Accessed February 8 2024)
5. Róhán Doherty, Sharon M. Madigan, Alan Nevill, Giles Warrington, and Jason G. Ellis, “The Sleep and Recovery Practices of Athletes”, National Center For Biotechnology Information, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8072992/ (Accessed February 8 2024)