The Cornerstone of Upper Body Strength: The Pullup
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Great info. Thanks!0
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Great info! Thanks!
Pull ups are way harder, but working on them!0 -
Good post, but I have to disagree on the difference b/w pull-ups and chin-ups.
Pull-ups don't have anymore back involvement than chin-ups. Just think about where the muscles attach. They dont' attach to your forearm! The reason chin-ups are easier is b/c you have more biceps activation. So you're just using more muscles, which is why the chin-up is the real king of upper body exercises and has been proven to activate more upper-body muscles to exercise levels than any other upper body exercise.
You couldn't be more wrong.
The difference b/w them has been beaten to death pretty much everywhere. Bottom line is that they aren't much different, except that the chin-up includes more biceps activation which is why they're "easier" and probably more bang for your buck. Yes there are other slight nuances such as forearms likely being worked more with pull-ups. But if you want the details:A study about the differences between pull-ups and chin-ups, using EMG analysis, was published in the December 2010 issue of the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. The researchers found that both variations of the exercise were initiated by the lower trapezius and pectoralis major, and then completed by the biceps brachii and latissimus. The major differences are that chin-ups more strongly activated the pectoralis major and biceps brachii than the pull-up, whereas the pull-up more strongly activated the lower trapezius than the chin-up. To this I would add that pull-ups work the forearm muscles more and tend to put less stress on the wrists and elbows.
Further, the study found that both variations were initiated by the lower trapezius and pectoralis major, and then completed by the biceps brachii and latissimus. However, consider that because the lats are internal rotators of the shoulders, chin-ups are not a good exercise to reverse round shoulders.
Link to the study:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/206643640 -
Good post, but I have to disagree on the difference b/w pull-ups and chin-ups.
Pull-ups don't have anymore back involvement than chin-ups. Just think about where the muscles attach. They dont' attach to your forearm! The reason chin-ups are easier is b/c you have more biceps activation. So you're just using more muscles, which is why the chin-up is the real king of upper body exercises and has been proven to activate more upper-body muscles to exercise levels than any other upper body exercise.
You couldn't be more wrong.
The difference b/w them has been beaten to death pretty much everywhere. Bottom line is that they aren't much different, except that the chin-up includes more biceps activation which is why they're "easier" and probably more bang for your buck. Yes there are other slight nuances such as forearms likely being worked more with pull-ups. But if you want the details:A study about the differences between pull-ups and chin-ups, using EMG analysis, was published in the December 2010 issue of the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. The researchers found that both variations of the exercise were initiated by the lower trapezius and pectoralis major, and then completed by the biceps brachii and latissimus. The major differences are that chin-ups more strongly activated the pectoralis major and biceps brachii than the pull-up, whereas the pull-up more strongly activated the lower trapezius than the chin-up. To this I would add that pull-ups work the forearm muscles more and tend to put less stress on the wrists and elbows.
Further, the study found that both variations were initiated by the lower trapezius and pectoralis major, and then completed by the biceps brachii and latissimus. However, consider that because the lats are internal rotators of the shoulders, chin-ups are not a good exercise to reverse round shoulders.
Link to the study:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20664364
Vanilla and Chocolate. Mix it up and you will be alright.
It is a great post0 -
Bump0
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great info!0
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If my surviving a zombie apocalypse is dependent on me being able to do pull ups, I'm so dead.0
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Thanks for posting Joe!0
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Thanks Joe!! We actually just got a pull up bar thinnger last night!! The Boy will be happy to have this info too!!0
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Excellent read Joe. I am using the assisted machine so I guess from your post I should NOT be. ;o) I will search out the appropriate machine at the gym and get on this.0
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Excellent read Joe. I am using the assisted machine so I guess from your post I should NOT be. ;o) I will search out the appropriate machine at the gym and get on this.
Stop using it, and either start with Chinups or start with 10 sets of 1 rep. If you can't do 1 rep, you can use a resistance band. Gyms have them. You can pick one up at Sports Authority or ****'s Sporting Goods for cheap.0 -
I guess I better step up my pull up game then huh!!!0
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damn.. i can barely hang there.. grip strength has somehow completely vanished over the years... how can you pull up if you can't hang on?0
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I can knock out 40 if I cheat - 20 dead hangs, and for a guy pushing 50, not bad.
Oh, how life has changed....:drinker:0 -
Good stuff.0
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fkn bump0
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Santa got me a pull-up bar for this very reason.0
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bump
Thanks!0 -
Frekain' awesome. I'd like to add some comments/questions:
"6. Perform negative movements. Start in the up position, and go down slow. This will help not only form, but strength as well."
Excellent advice, this is how I got started. Convert those negatives into positives.
"10. Initiate with your lats. When you start to pull, keep shoulders back, head up and fire your lats FIRST, not your biceps/arms. If you are doing this correctly, you'll know it."
Very important. A little clarification, since this eluded me for a while. When you start, pull the shoulders back and pull blades inwards towards each other. Made a huge difference.
"12. Pull your chin over the bar. Sure when you're starting to build strength, you may not be able to which is fine, but eventually you need to. Nothing else needs to be said."
Yes, but be sure not to crane your neck out and point the chin. You can screw up your cervical spine like that. (I did.)
"13. Use different grips. Palms facing away, Palms facing you, Palms facing each other. Also use different widths of your grip."
Also, mismatched grips. One away, one towards you, etc.
"14. Keep elbows slightly bent throughout your set. Don't lock your elbows in the middle of a set. Keep them bent at all times."
Care to explain? I thought the lockouts made it harder. I can do a lot more if I don't lockout.0 -
Excellent read Joe. I am using the assisted machine so I guess from your post I should NOT be. ;o) I will search out the appropriate machine at the gym and get on this.
I use the assisted machine because, until recently, I had never been able to do a single pull-up in my entire life.
Thanks to the assisted machine, I can do about 3 actual pull-ups now, before being completely drained for a day or two.0 -
I mean......................Opinions can vary on this. Chinups and Pullups are a mans exercise no doubt.
But for me to call it the best its hard to overlook things such as bench, squats, deads. Chinups/Pullups are right there though.
The information and quality of the post is there and many will learn from it so thats a gret job by you
But in the scenario below I will take the dealifter
And I will use PHRAK the guy who posted above
Phrak. Who can deadlift 800 lbs but onlyp ullup his wiehgt 4 times
vs
SUPER HUMAN 10000 PULLUP GUY
PHRAK=WINNER
FACT
Chinups/Pullups don't involve your legs. The biggest muscle on the human body
Squats/Deads/Bench do.
1. The initial post stressed pullups as a measure of upper body strength
2. How does Bench work your legs? You're not supposed to use legs at all during bench - dats cheating!
3. I agree, Deads are awesomel; but pullups are key, too.0 -
Thanks for the post Joe.0
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I really want to work on pullups, but do not currently have access to a gym. Are there any reasonably priced at-home bars that someone could recommend? Those door-frame ones kind of worry me, but I'd get one if someone (or several someones) highly recommends a specific one.0
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Excellent read Joe. I am using the assisted machine so I guess from your post I should NOT be. ;o) I will search out the appropriate machine at the gym and get on this.
Stop using it, and either start with Chinups or start with 10 sets of 1 rep. If you can't do 1 rep, you can use a resistance band. Gyms have them. You can pick one up at Sports Authority or ****'s Sporting Goods for cheap.
the assisted machines get a lot of use at my gym...are you saying they are a waste of time or that they are detrimental?
what about lat pull downs? do they get you better prepared for pull ups?
good tips0 -
Bump for later. Thanks for the info!!!0
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"You don't lock your elbows straight in a dead hang position while in the middle of a set. You keep them slightly bent. "
Again, why?
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
Greetings fellow MFP'ers. It's your "friendly" neighborhood Joe here to speak with you today about the SCALE of upper body strength known as THE PULLUP.
... This is your "friendly" neighborhood Joe....signing off.
Thanks, great post!0 -
I really want to work on pullups, but do not currently have access to a gym. Are there any reasonably priced at-home bars that someone could recommend? Those door-frame ones kind of worry me, but I'd get one if someone (or several someones) highly recommends a specific one.
There are several 'door jam' pullup bars that work pretty well. I have one that has definitely been adequate - my only complaint is that I'm sorta wide through the shoulders, so that if I try to do chin ups, I'm all squoooshed up. But it's great for wide grip pull ups.
Here's a link:
http://www.amazon.com/Maximum-Fitness-Gear-All-In-One-Exercise/dp/B002LN9XJI/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1340722107&sr=1-1&keywords=door+frame+pull+up+bar0 -
I really want to work on pullups, but do not currently have access to a gym. Are there any reasonably priced at-home bars that someone could recommend? Those door-frame ones kind of worry me, but I'd get one if someone (or several someones) highly recommends a specific one.
We have the Perfect Pullup bar at home, it was $30 at Target. It is the door frame one. My husband, whose weight fluctuates anywhere between 200 and 220 uses it all the time. My 5 year old twins use it on a daily basis to hang and play on, and my 10 year has done flips on it. My house is 115 years old, and it is very sturdy in the frame.
Thank you Joe for this article....I do use the assisted machine at the gym, but am still no closer to doing one pull-up. I will try this at home!0 -
Excellent read Joe. I am using the assisted machine so I guess from your post I should NOT be. ;o) I will search out the appropriate machine at the gym and get on this.
Stop using it, and either start with Chinups or start with 10 sets of 1 rep. If you can't do 1 rep, you can use a resistance band. Gyms have them. You can pick one up at Sports Authority or ****'s Sporting Goods for cheap.
the assisted machines get a lot of use at my gym...are you saying they are a waste of time or that they are detrimental?
what about lat pull downs? do they get you better prepared for pull ups?
good tips
Assisted machines get a lot of use because people are put into this mindset from "trainers" or their friends that they work. You might get a little benefit from them. You are better off taking it slow and start with Pullups without the machine, and go through the guidelines I outlined in the first post.0
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