Pullups use your lats and biceps primarily, while also recruiting your deltoids, rhomboids, and core. These are the muscles you'll need to strengthen. We've curated five exercises as a starting point to train for pullups.
What muscles are involved in a pull up?
One of the reasons the wide-grip pullup is such an incredible exercise is because of the many muscles used to perform the move:
- Latissimus dorsi. ...
- Trapezius. ...
- Thoracic erector spinae. ...
- Rhomboids. ...
- Infraspinatus. ...
- Teres minor. ...
- External oblique.
What muscle works the most when performing a pull up?
Your latissimus dorsi is the most powerful pulling muscle in your back, and during a pull-up, it's the primary mover, or the muscle that provides most of the power to bring your body up to the bar. One of the movements it performs is shoulder adduction, or bringing your arms down toward the sides of your body.
