Tbh the "just push through it" mentality ruined my deadlift form for 6 months
I used to think clutch meant grinding harder when my lower back felt off. Every dude in my gym said that's how you get stronger. Last October I finally filmed myself at 315 lbs and saw my spine looked like a question mark. Completely changed my approach. Now I drop weight at the first sign of rounding and focus on bracing. Anyone else have to unlearn that toxic gym advice before you actually got stronger?
That thing you said about your spine looking like a question mark hit me hard because I heard that exact description in a podcast with a physical therapist. He said most people don't realize their lower back is rounding until they see it on video because you can't feel it the same way. I started filming all my heavy sets after that and it was brutal to watch myself. Like you I had to drop weight way down and focus on bracing before every rep. The "push through it" crowd really does set you up for injury not strength.