deadlift targets what muscles
Your Back and Beyond. Your erector spinae muscles are the target of the barbell deadlift exercise. These muscles have three heads and contribute to a series of neck and back movements. The erector spinae runs vertically from the sacrum of your lower back to your skull. Although the deadlift exercise targets the erector spinae, it also strengthens your gluteus maximus, quadriceps, calves, hamstrings, trapezius, rhomboids, abdominals and obliques.