Lat pulldown is a compound exercise that is a popular exercise for those looking to develop muscles in their upper body. It requires movement at both the shoulder and elbow joints. There are numerous muscles that are recruited as you complete the exercise, but the exercise is not effective at targeting both of your pectoral muscles.
Technique
According to the American Council on Exercise, to perform the lat pulldown correctly, sit at a lat pulldown cable pulley unit with your thighs securely underneath the knee pads and your feet firmly on the floor. Reach up and grip the bar with wide hand placement and with your palms facing forward. Sit tall as you pull the bar down toward your chest so that it passes the front of your face and nearly touches your upper chest. Extend your arms to control the bar back up to starting position. Maintain a firm torso throughout the entire movement, not allowing yourself to lean back as you pull.
Pectorals
Your pectorals, a term used to reference your pectoralis major and minor, are the major muscles in your chest. Your pectoralis major originates at the front of your sternum and at your second through sixth ribs and then inserts at the front of your humerus bone. It performs primarily shoulder adduction. Your pectoralis minor originates at your third, fourth and fifth ribs, and then inserts at the top of your scapula. It performs abduction, downward rotation and depression at your scapula.
Lat Pulldown Muscles
According to ExRx.net, lat pulldowns primarily recruit your latissimus dorsi muscle in your back. Your latissimus dorsi muscle performs shoulder adduction and extension, driving your arms back and towards the midline of your body. Assisting in the movement are your biceps brachii, brachialis and brachioradialis, which bend your elbows as you pull the bar down, as well as scapular and rotator cuff muscles. Amongst the muscles assisting with movement at your scapula is your pectoralis minor, which depresses your scapula, or moves your scapula down, as you pull the bar to your chest.
Pectoral Exercises
Lat pulldown is a pulling exercise and thus recruits primarily the muscles in your back. Exercises that require you to push, such as when you're completing pushups, primarily target your pectorals. According to ExRx.net, exercises that effectively recruit your chest muscles include the chest press, incline chest press, pushup, chest dip, pullover and chest fly.
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