Lat pulldowns and chinups are two exercises that strengthen the muscles of your back and arms. Both exercises involve a pulling motion and emphasize several of the same muscle groups. Although these exercises are similar in many ways, there are...
When you're trying to strengthen your back, lat pulldowns are useful exercise but far from your only exercise option. To do a lat pulldown, which works the two latissimus dorsi muscles in the middle of your back, you must sit at a weight machine...
The lat pulldown movement is named specifically after a major triangular muscle that connects to your shoulder, shoulder blade and hip. This muscle is called latissimus dorsi, and while the lat pulldown exercises multiple muscles, the primary...
Performing the lat-pulldown exercise with weights requires a pulldown weight machine, which has a cable attached to an adjustable stack of weights through a pulley system, or a machine that has a lever attached to bars on which you can load...
Lat pulldowns are generally easier for a beginner because the weight can be adjusted to a lighter setting. The problem of including pull-ups when beginning a workout program is that you might not have enough strength for even one pull-up, making...
A lat pulldown is a common gym exercise that's designed to strengthen your latissimus dorsi muscles that run along the outsides of your upper back. A traditional lat pulldown is performed seated at a lat pulldown station by pulling the straight...
Pullups and lat pulldowns are both exercises that strengthen primarily muscles of the back and arms. While both exercises target several of the same major groups, there are subtle differences in emphasis, according to Frederic Delavier, author of...
The abbreviation "lat" stands for latissimus dorsi. This large muscle starts in the lower back and flares out toward the top at an angle. When both lats are well-defined, they give the back a sought-after "V" shape. The behind-the-neck lat...
The reverse lat pulldown is a variation to the regular pulldown. Instead of gripping the bar with an overhand grip, you use an underhand grip where your palms face your body. Working this exercise into your training plan will help build strength...
Lat, or lateral, pulldowns are a pulley machine exercise that replicates the more challenging pullups and chinups. Classed as a compound upper-body pulling exercise, lat pulldowns affect a variety of upper-body muscles and are popular with fitness...
The lat pulldown exercise is traditionally used to train the muscles of your back; however, it can be modified to place a greater amount of strain on your biceps. This increased biceps workload can lead to greater strength gains and improved...
Pulldowns are workouts designed to stimulate and strengthen your lat muscles that run alongside your outer back. There are alternative versions to this workout. A traditional pulldown is performed while seated while with a straight arm pulldown...
You can perform lat pulldowns by pulling the cable or bar in front of your head or behind it, depending on your goals. The most beneficial pulldowns are those performed in front of you, writes exercise physiologist Owen Warren at the Sports Injury...
If you lack the strength to perform chin-ups, use a machine to build muscle until your strength levels increase. The biangular pulldown simulates chin-ups and the rotating handles allow you to pull with the grip of your choice. This exercises...
The lat pulldown machine is used for more than exercising your back. Change from a seated to a standing position to use this weight machine to strengthen the backs of your upper arms, the triceps. The lat pulldown bar provides workout variation...
The lat pulldown is a multi-joint strength exercise that targets several muscle groups in your upper body. Use different grips to create a new feel to this exercise. A lat pulldown simulates a pull-up, except you pull the weight toward you instead...
Pulldowns work the wide muscles of your back, the latissimus dorsi, the back of your shoulders and small muscles under your shoulder blades. Pulldowns also work your biceps and your grip. When performing a pulldown, pull the bar down smoothly to...
The lat pulldown is a common exercise used in most gyms and fitness centers to build size and strength in the back, particularly the latissimus dorsi muscle. There are several methods and handgrip placements you can use to perform the exercise...
Lat pulldown machines are usually available in gyms and fitness centers -- even some home multi-station gyms have a lat pulldown machine. You would typically use this machine to do the lat pulldown exercise, which targets your back muscles, but...
The lat pulldown machine is a piece of fixed resistance equipment that is found in most gyms. The machine is suitable for both men and women to use and the action required is very simple to perform. Incorporating this machine into your weight...
The "lat" in lat pulldown is short for latissimus dorsi, and that is primarily what the exercise targets. As with most exercises, more muscles get involved in the movement than just the latissimus dorsi. There are a number of ways that this...
Weight machines give you the ability to work your muscles from seated, standing and lying positions. A lat pulldown machine has an adjustable seat, padded thigh support and overhead pulley and cable system that attaches to a weight stack. The lat...
The triceps run along the back of the arm, opposite the biceps. They are primarily involved with extending your arm. The lat bar can be used to work these muscles, allowing for many triceps extension variations. Lat pulldowns, also called...
The lat cable pulldown machine, as its names suggests, is intended to exercise the dominant back muscle, the latissimus dorsi, while using assistance from the biceps. You can stimulate the biceps muscle further using the same apparatus. If your...
If you cannot perform pulldowns or pullups, rowing builds your back effectively. A variety of rows work your back in a similar manner, with similar results. Heavy rows work the wide muscles of your back, the small muscles that compose the back of...
As their name suggests, lat pulldowns strengthen the lats, more formally known as the latissimus dorsi muscles, which are located on either side of the spine on your middle and upper back. They attach to the spine on the bottom and the front of...
The latissimus dorsi, commonly referred to as the “lats,” is the largest muscle in your back. A variety of exercises effectively recruit and develop your latissimus dorsi, including pullups, chinups and rows. Lat pulldowns are also a...
Cable pulldowns work every major muscle in your back, making them an excellent exercise for both simulating real world movements and toning in a hurry. If you don't have access to a cable machine, you can perform the same exercise with an elastic...
Pulldowns are effective exercises for working various parts of your upper body, depending on how you perform them. Changing your grip and pulling the cable down in front or behind your back emphasizes different muscles. Researchers at the...
