Muscle Activation Pattern Is Similar Between The Pull-up And Lat-pull Exercise

Abstract

The lat pull-down (LP) exercise is commonly viewed as a corollary exercise to the pull-up (PU) and used to develop PU work capacity. Interestingly, neither 1-repetition maximum (1-RM) nor repetitions-to-failure (RTF; 60% of 1-RM) LP performance correlates with pull-up performance (Chandler et al., 2001). PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between and muscle activation pattern of LP and PU performance. METHODS: On two separate days, male subjects (n=9; age: 20.3 ± 0.7 yrs; height: 177.7 ± 6.7 cm; mass: 78.3 ± 7.3 kg) performed a PU RTF test, a LP 1-RM test, and a LP RTF test at 60% of the LP 1-RM; pronated grip with controlled hand spacing. Surface EMG was collected during the first repetition of each exercise from the latissimus dorsi (LD), pectoralis major (PM), biceps brachii (BB), triceps brachii (TB), anterior deltoid (AD), and posterior deltoid (PD) muscle groups. The concentric phases of the EMG signals were integrated (iEMG) and normalized to EMG activity during a maximal voluntary isometric contraction (iEMGMVC) performed at the mid-range of each exercise. RESULTS: The range of motion (ROM) was similar between LP (144 ± 15°) and PU (132 ± 20°). There was a weak, negative relationship between 1-RM LP (81.1 ± 14.3 kg) and LP RTF (r=-0.44). PU performance (14.8 ± 5.6 reps; body mass 96% of 1-RM LP) was negatively correlated with 1-RM LP (81.1 ± 14.3 kg; r=-0.53) but not LP RTF (27.1 ± 6.4 reps; r=-0.06). However, work capacity (reps × load) was similar between PU RTF (1135 ± 360 kg reps) and LP RTF (1297 ± 6.4 kg reps). There was a progressive increase in iEMG/EMGMVC in PM, TB, LD, and PD throughout the concentric ROM in both PU and LP. iEMG/EMGMVC of PM, TB, AD, and PD was greater during PU than LP reflecting the greater load associated with PU (96% of 1-RM LP) as opposed to 60% of 1-RM. Interestingly LD muscle activity was not different between exercises. CONCLUSION: Muscle activation pattern is similar in PU and LP; however the magnitude of the activation is greater during PU reflecting differences in load. Differences in performance of the PU and LP appear unrelated to the initial pattern of muscle activation. Supported in part by PEO Soldier Grant #AHS 1131