Many see the pull-up exercise as a gold standard of physical fitness. There's also a common misconception that pull-ups require great arm strength. While you do in fact use your arm and shoulder muscles to help do a pull-up, the primary movers--the muscles doing most of the work in a pull-up--are your latissimus dorsi muscles. The latissimus dorsi muscles are the larger, powerful "wing-like" back muscles responsible for most major pulling motions you might make.
Tips and Warnings
- Your body should stay more or less vertically oriented throughout this exercise, not angled with your feet in front of your head. It's okay to let your legs dangle straight down as long as they don't touch the floor. If your legs are too long to keep them off the floor, bend your knees during the exercise. You can add variation to this exercise by performing it with a wide or narrow grip, or using a middle grip with your palms facing toward you.
Things You'll Need
- Pull-up bar
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