THE EVIDENCE Researchers from Duke University Medical Center (Durham, North Carolina) compared the conventional deadlift to the sumo-style deadlift in 13 Division 1-A collegiate football players who regularly used both styles of deads in their training programs. The athletes performed four sets using their 12-rep max on both the sumo- and conventional-style deadlift while the scientists recorded muscle activity in the middle quads (rectus femoris), outer quads (vastus lateralis), inner quads (vastus medialis), outer hamstrings (biceps femoris), inner hamstrings (semitendinosus/semimembranosus), glutes, inner things (adductors), calves, abs, external obliques, and middle traps and upper traps. They found that the sumo-style deadlift increased the use of the inner and outer quads, inner hamstrings, and upper traps muscles more than the conventional deadlift.
THE VERDICT The major difference between the two deadlifts appears to be that the sumo-style deadlift utilizes more of the quads, the inner hams and upper traps. The very wide stance causes the legs to bend farther, which requires more quad usage to straighten them. The greater upper-trap activity is likely due to the more erect torso during the sumo-style deadlift. So be sure to utilize both styles of the deadlift in your back routine. Both focus on your spinal erectors, but the sumo style can help you build bigger quads and inner hams, and the standard deadlift will help to build outer hams and glutes. You can either incorporate both styles in the same workout, or alternate them from one workout to the next.
Reference: R.F. Escamilla et al., "An electromyographic analysis of sumo and conventional style deadlifts," Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 34(4):682-88, 200
--Jim Stoppani, phD
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