Deadlifting back pain

[Chris Puckett]

Hey Mark, I am a Crossfitter of about six months, and I have been learning the finer arts of heavy lifting thanks to you and your associates. Your SS book is in the mail from Amazon.

I have back pain after rounding my back on one particularly sloppy 90% deadlift rep this week. I had a deep tissue massage, which helped. Do I go lighter to prevent the rounding, or work on focus during the lift to prevent this? And once I am sore, what do you find helps the lower back soreness from a bad pull?

Thanks,
Chris Puckett
NYC

[Mark Rippetoe]

If you can keep your back flat at a lighter weight, focus on keeping it that way until you can do it at heavier weight. Once you are sore from an injury, you'll be sore until it heals. Ibuprofen will help, and several sets of high-rep back extensions.