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Lance B.'s Twitter Updates

You warm-up, but don't forget to COOL-DOWN after your workout. 12 days ago
 

Pop Quiz! - Pull ups

Posted Dec 23 2008 2:41pm

Question:

A wide pull-up works muscleswider outon your back?


Answer:

  • True 
  • False

Gym science would have us believe that a wider grip on the pull-up bar pictured below would put emphasis on muscles wider on the back. 


Even this old school workout poster supports this idea...




but the answer to the pop quiz is actually, 'False'.

Wide grip pull ups do not only work the muscles located wider on the back.

Do the muscles closer to the spine turn offtake 5, or just chill  during a wide grip pull-up?

Of course not!

All the muscles of the upper back are working to perform the exercise. 

the muscles closer to the middle of the back (rhomboids & trapezius) have to be working because they primarily control what the shoulder blades are doing!

Just the same, a narrow grip pull-up does not only  target the muscles the middle of the back.

Using different grips for your pull-ups is good for variation, but not for isolating parts of your back...sorry.



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