Lower back weakness

[beavf16]

Rip et al,

I started SS on 8 Feb with great success in everything except my DL. On DL days my lower back is so fatigued after the squats that I can't lift very heavy. My DL is 20 lbs less than my squat. It gets so tight that putting the weight on the bar is a chore and I'm in serious pain on the way home. Thoughts?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Eat more and grow faster and this will go away very soon.

[elVarouza]

I usually walk funny after a heavy set of deadlifts because my lower back is so tight. One thing I've found that helps (DISCLAIMER: this is NOT AT ALL a substitute for eating, resting, and recovering properly) is to take a "contrast shower" right after getting out of the gym. Aside from being relaxing I find it really helps to keep down the initial soreness from a training session.

You turn the shower to cold, jump in there for 60 seconds, making sure to get cold water on the major muscles you've used, e.g. lower back, chest, whatever. Then, turn it to hot for 60s and repeat the sequence a couple of times, ending on cold.

I find it relaxing as hell and I even do this before I go to sleep. But this is just a small, minute effect compared to eating, resting, and recovering properly.