The dumbbell hinge with the knees kept nearly straight and the weights lowered further down the legs: more range and a longer hamstring stretch than the Romanian deadlift, which ACE leaves for lifters with good control.
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Hip hinge family
Stiff-legged dumbbell deadlift
Harder option
These tiers compare demands within this family, not universal safety or a mandatory sequence. Load, range, balance and your circumstances can change difficulty. Choose deliberately; pain does not select a progression.
The dumbbell hinge with the knees kept nearly straight and the weights lowered further down the legs: more range and a longer hamstring stretch than the Romanian deadlift, which ACE leaves for lifters with good control.
DemandMedium
Equipment requiredA dumbbell
Muscle focusHamstrings · Glutes · Back
The figure gets into position, then repeats the movement. Technical checks passed; qualified exercise review is pending.
Watch this variation on the 3D figure above: it gets into position, then repeats the movement.
Source-researched guide. Clinical review is pending.
How to move
Stand with a dumbbell in each hand in front of the thighs, the knees nearly straight.
Hinge forward with a flat back, the dumbbells travelling down the legs as far as the hamstrings allow.
Drive the hips forward to stand tall.
Form cues
The knees stay nearly straight but never locked hard.
Stop where the back would start to round.
Practice and cautions
No universal dose is assigned. Choose a manageable amount for your current capacity, leave room for controlled repetitions, and allow recovery. A clinician’s individual plan takes priority.
Leave it with low-back or hamstring injury. This is movement education, not an assessment or treatment prescription. Stop for sharp or increasing pain, dizziness, numbness or tingling; seek individual guidance for symptoms, injury or restrictions.
Unlicense · Free Exercise DB contributors; derived from wrkout/exercises.json. Text import; no photographs or media. · Revision f00c92c7dcf1216a928a52c3706c7ce8e2f71ed5