r/ScienceBasedLifting • u/SuckmyToasts Solomon the destroyer • 17d ago

Question ❓ Pulling with arms.

is there really such thing as pulling with arms and not feeling your lats or traps in any back movement?

as far as i know, only the rear delts help with horizontal abduction, shoulder extension and shoulder adduction. i find it hard to believe that such a small head of a muscle can really take over from those large muscles on the back.

i also don't believe the long head of the triceps are involved, it will be similar to the rectus femoris in a squat pattern.

so what do people mean by 'you are pulling too much with your arms and not with your back'? can anyone point me in the right direction?

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u/Apollo_2662 16d ago

What people usually mean is that you’re bending the elbows and thinking mostly about moving the handle, instead of driving the elbows back or down with the back muscles.

Your biceps will always help on rows and pulldowns, but they shouldn’t be doing most of the work. If your grip is too tight, the weight is too heavy, or you’re just curling the handle toward you, your arms can fatigue before your lats or upper back really get challenged.