In powerlifting, what does the Romanian deadlift specifically involve?

The Romanian deadlift is a specific type of deadlift that primarily targets the hamstrings, glutes, and lower back. It involves lowering a barbell along the front of the legs while maintaining a slight bend in the knees and focusing on hinging at the hips. The movement starts with the barbell at waist height and, as you hinge forward from the hips, the barbell is moved down to just above the knees or mid-shin level, depending on flexibility and form. The Romanian deadlift is unique in its emphasis on maintaining tension in the posterior chain throughout the lift, and it is distinct from a standard deadlift where the weight is lifted off the ground from a squatted position.

The choice involving lifting a dumbbell off the floor to waist height does not accurately reflect the mechanics of the Romanian deadlift since the exercise specifically utilizes a barbell and is characterized by a hip hinge rather than simply lifting a weight from the ground. This distinction is essential for understanding the proper execution and outcomes of the Romanian deadlift compared to other lifts.