Lat Pulldown

Targets: Shoulders, back

Equipment Needed: Cable pulley machine

Level: Beginner

The pulldown exercise works the back muscles, especially the latissimus dorsi or the “lats.”1 It is performed at a workstation with adjustable resistance, usually plates. While sitting with your upper thighs restrained under a thigh pad, you pull a hanging bar down toward you, to reach chin level, and then release it back up with control for one repetition. This exercise can be done as part of an upper body strength workout.

Benefits

This exercise targets the latissimus dorsi, which is the muscle just under the armpits and spreading across and down the back. By isolating the back muscles with this exercise, you can focus specifically on them without tiring out the biceps or triceps. It’s important to target your back muscles to help with proper posture and to ease pulling movements, like opening a door, starting a lawnmower, or even performing a pull-up.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Sit comfortably on the pulldown seat, feet flat on the floor. Check the height of the bar. You may need to adjust the bar height by shortening or lengthening the chain or cable that supports the bar, or your seat height. Get a gym trainer to help with this if necessary. The bar should be at a height that your outstretched arms can comfortably grasp the bar without having to fully stand up, but you should also be able to still extend your arms to achieve full range of motion. Adjust the knee pad so that the upper thighs are tucked firmly under the pad. This will assist you when you apply effort to the bar.

  1. Grasp the bar with a wide grip with an overhand, knuckles up grip. Other positions and grips are possible but start with this standard position.
  2. Pull the bar down until it’s approximately level with the chin. Exhale on down motion. While shifting just slightly backward is OK, aim to keep your upper torso stationary. Keep your feet flat on the floor and engage your abs as you pull. The bottom of the motion should be where your elbows can’t move downward any more without moving backward. Be sure to stop at that point and do not go lower.
  3. Squeeze the shoulder blades together while maintaining square shoulders.
  4. From the bottom position with the bar close to your chin, slowly return the bar to the starting position while controlling its gradual ascent. Don’t let it crash into the weight plates.
  5. Continue until you complete eight to 12 repetitions in a set. Rest, then continue to complete your program of sets.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE