Deadlifts are NOT bad for your back. What actually harms your back is weakness, poor technique, and trying to max out every time you lift. When performed correctly and programmed intelligently, deadlifts are one of the best tools for building a strong and resilient spine. They can even help fix a bad back. There is a difference between deadlifting for performance and deadlifting for general health, but in both cases, the deadlift itself is not the problem. The problem is how people approach it.