Jump to content

Pullover (exercise)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The pullover is an exercise that is performed with either a dumbbell or a barbell.[1] Pullovers can be made to affect either the chest or the back depending on how wide the grip is (barbell) and the position of the shoulders. A research done on the pullover movement using a barbell suggested more effect on the pectoralis major muscle as compared to the latissimus dorsi.[2]

Movement

[edit]

A typical pullover involves resting the upper back on a flat bench. The hips are kept slightly flexed. Keeping the hips off the bench is said to help in balancing the weight and stability during the movement. The weight is held above the chest with elbows slightly bent.


Variation

[edit]

This exercise can be done using either a straight barbell, EZ barbell,[3] dumbbell[4] or cable attachment.

The elbows could also be bent at about 90° to achieve a different stretch. In this variation the weight is lowered till the upper arm is in line with the torso.[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Neporent, Liz and Suzanne Schlosberg, Shirley J. Archer (2011) Weight Training For Dummies, pp.141-145. John Wiley & Sons. Google Books. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  2. ^ Marchetti, PH; Uchida, MC (November 2011). "Effects of the pullover exercise on the pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi muscles as evaluated by EMG". Journal of Applied Biomechanics. 27 (4): 380–4. doi:10.1123/jab.27.4.380. PMID 21975179.
  3. ^ "Barbell Pullover". Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  4. ^ "Dumbbell Pullover". Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  5. ^ "Barbell Bent Arm Pullover". Retrieved 15 September 2014.