What muscles are targeted by these different variations of pull-ups: standard, chin-ups, and the neutral or parallel close grip pull-up?
2 min read
Asked by: Melissa Mendez
The primary mover for these pulling exercises is your latissimus dorsi, the large, V-shaped muscle in your back. But when you do any variation including a neutral-grip chin-up, the muscles worked in your back also include the teres major, trapezius, rhomboids and your posterior deltoids (the backs of your shoulders).
What muscles are used in pull-ups and chin ups?
Research on muscular activation comparing the pullup and chinup suggests the chinup works the same muscles as the pullup, albeit with a greater emphasis on the biceps and pectoral muscles and slightly less emphasis on the latissimus dorsi and lower trapezius ( 2 , 3 ).
What muscles are used in neutral grip pull ups?
Neutral grip pull-ups work both primary and secondary groups of muscles. Furthermore, when you use a neutral grip for pull-ups, you work the majority of the muscles in the upper body. This includes the latissimus dorsi or lats, the biceps, pectorals, triceps, obliques and many other muscles!
What muscles are targeted in pull-ups?
Pullups use your lats and biceps primarily, while also recruiting your deltoids, rhomboids, and core. These are the muscles you’ll need to strengthen. We’ve curated five exercises as a starting point to train for pullups.
Do chin-ups work triceps?
Simple: Chin-ups require your palms to be facing you with an underhand grip, pull-ups will have them facing away with an overhand grip. Both exercises will work great for your biceps and triceps, but chin-ups increase isolation to those particular muscles, providing for a better arm workout.
What muscles do pull downs work?
The lat pulldown works many muscles, including the latissimus dorsi, pectoralis major, rotator cuff, and biceps brachii.
Muscles worked in the lat pulldown
- pectoralis major.
- lower and middle trapezius.
- brachialis.
- brachioradialis.
- teres major.
- rhomboids.
- biceps brachii.
- infraspinatus.
Does neutral grip pull up work brachialis?
With a neutral grip pull-up, you’re still working a majority of the muscles in the upper body. This time, there is more emphasis on certain muscles through the biceps, brachialis, and forearms compared to wide grip pull-ups or chin-ups.
Do pull-ups work brachialis?
When you perform pullups, there is another “very important” muscle used in the upper arm called the brachialis. “This muscle is a strong flexor of the elbow. The brachialis lies directly underneath the biceps and, when developed, can give you wider arms and taller looking biceps,” says Cavaliere.
What do neutral grip pull-ups do?
The neutral-grip pull-up is a multijoint bodyweight exercise in which the reps are performed with the palms facing one another. Like other pull-up variations, it builds strength and muscle in the upper back, biceps, and core.
