Can lat pull-down damage the spine?

Asked by: Dawn Holloway

Can lat pull downs hurt your back?

The leg press, seated row, lat-pulldown, seated leg curl and shoulder press have been favourite exercises of thousands of gym enthusiasts for many years. However, when done improperly they can lead to lower-back pain.

What are some common mistakes people make in a lat pulldown?

A common mistake many trainees make is not keeping their shoulders externally rotated. Your shoulders internally rotate in a lat pulldown when the weight is either too heavy, or you are performing too many reps. Keep your upper back arched and your shoulder blades back.

Why you shouldn’t do lat pulldowns behind your head?

Increased Risk of Shoulder Injury



If you pull the bar down with your arms too far behind your head, it will overstretch your rotator cuff muscles in your shoulder, which are essential to support your shoulders. Without the support of the rotator cuffs, you are much more likely to injure your shoulder.

Is lat pulldown behind the neck good?

The behind-the-neck lat pulldown causes forward head posture, which increases your risk of rotator cuff injuries. From improving posture to building stronger back muscles — specifically your lats — the lat pulldown is one of the best exercises all around.

Should you touch your chest on lat pulldowns?

This helps to engage the entire musculature of the lats rather than just the upper portion. It also ensures you’re not pulling from the upper traps and shoulders. The bar should NOT touch the chest.

How far down should you go on lat pulldowns?

For low rows, you’re seated and pulling a different bar, with handles, into your chest. For low rows, the pull should be positioned around the height of your waist when you’re seated. To do low rows properly, maintain your lat pulldown positioning on the bench, grasp the bar meant for low rows, and do 10-15 reps.

Are lat pulldowns good?

The lat pulldown is a fantastic exercise to strengthen the latissimus dorsi muscle, the broadest muscle in your back, which promotes good postures and spinal stability. Form is crucial when performing a lat pulldown to prevent injury and reap the best results.

What weightlifting exercise causes the most injuries?

Bench presses, rows, and dead lifts are among the most common weight lifting exercises leading to back sprains and strains. Sprains — tears or stretches in the ligaments — are acute injuries directly caused by trauma.

Is reverse lat pulldown better?

Are Reverse Grip Pulldowns Good? Yes, they are an effective exercise. They can significantly improve strength and stimulate hypertrophy throughout the back, biceps and shoulders. The exercise will also enhance stability in the upper back.

Is lat pulldown for back or shoulders?

Lat pulldowns also work the rhomboid muscles on your upper back, which draw your shoulder blades toward your spine, as well as the lower trapezius muscles, which pull your shoulder blades down. The exercise strengthens the rear deltoids on the backs of your shoulders, which help pull the arms backward.

Should you lean back on lat pulldown?

Grasp the bar with a wide grip, looking forward with your torso upright. Retract your shoulder blades and pull the bar down in front of you to your upper chest. Squeeze your lats at the bottom of the move. Resist the temptation to lean back to aid the movement.

Does grip matter on lat pulldown?

No matter which grip width a pronated hand position will create more muscle activity in the lats than a supinated grip will. According to this study, the grip orientation had no marked influence on either the middle trapezius or the biceps brachii.

Is wider better for lat pulldowns?

Which grip is better for the lat pulldown will depend on your goals. A wide grip is better for lifters who want to increase lat strength or size or for those looking to improve their pull-ups. A close grip is better for those looking to target their mid and upper back or increase the strength of their back overall.

Do lat pulldowns help posture?

Lat pulldowns can be effective at correcting the rounded-back, forward-head posture we often see today. They train our body to depress (bring down) and adduct (bring together) our shoulder blades. Over time, this will improve shoulder function and discourage the poor posture that comes from too much sitting.