Thread: Question about muscles used as synergistics/isometrically/stabilizers vs. primary

On legs day, I do a ton of deadlifts (conventional, sumo, stiff-leg, and hex trap bar). I know deadlifts train the following four muscle groups synergstically only (as stabilizers): abdominals, obliques, calves, and hip adductors. From my understanding, the primary muscles targeted directly are the hamstrings, quads, and gluteals, and erector spinae (lower back).

Question: since the abdominals, obliques, calves, and hip adductors were not targeted directly by the deadlifts, I also force myself to do single-use exercises targeting these muscles. Is this really necessary, or is my time better spent doing more compound exercises? [My friend, who is an advanced lifter, says he does not do abdominal exercises since his rack pulls target those muscles.]

It depends on your goals or needs. In your friend's case, it might just be that he only wants or needs the synergist muscles to be strong enough for him to perform the lifts that he wants to perform. As long as they are not limiting him, he wouldn't have to do direct work.

If you're doing a high volume of deadlifting on one day, I personally wouldn't additionally do isolation work for any of the several major muscles involved on that same day.

I am not sure what your goal is, but if it's mostly about posterior strength and size I would give deadlift the lion's share of volume for the week and then take note of your sticking points and train those in isolation between deadlift blocks.