Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2020 Nov;30(11):2205-2214.
doi: 10.1111/sms.13780. Epub 2020 Aug 7.

Avoiding high-risk rotator cuff loading: Muscle force during three pull-up techniques

Caryn A Urbanczyk  1 , Joseph A I Prinold  1 , Peter Reilly  1 , Anthony M J Bull  1
Affiliations

Avoiding high-risk rotator cuff loading: Muscle force during three pull-up techniques

Caryn A Urbanczyk et al. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2020 Nov.

Abstract

Heavily loaded overhead training tasks, such as pull-ups are an effective strength training and rehabilitation exercise requiring high muscle forces maintained over a large range of motion. This study used experiments and computational modeling to examine loading patterns during three different pull-up variants and highlighted risks to vulnerable musculoskeletal structures. Optical motion tracking and a force platform captured kinematics and kinetics of 11 male subjects with no history of shoulder pathology, during performance of three pull-up variants-pronated front grip, pronated wide grip, and supinated reverse grip. UK National Shoulder model (UKNSM) simulated biomechanics of the shoulder girdle. Muscle forces and activation patterns were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA with post-hoc comparisons. Motor group recruitment was similar across all pull-up techniques, with upper limb depression occurring secondary to torso elevation. Stress-time profiles show significant differences in individual muscle patterns among the three pull-up variants, with the most marked differences between wide grip and reverse grip. Comparing across techniques, latissimus dorsi was relatively more active in wide pull-ups (P < .01); front pull-ups favored activation of biceps brachii and brachialis (P < .02); reverse pull-ups displayed higher proportional rotator cuff activation (P < .01). Pull-ups promote stability of the shoulder girdle and activation of scapula stabilizers and performing pull-ups over their full range of motion is important as different techniques and phases emphasize different muscles. Shoulder rehabilitation and strength & conditioning programs should encourage incorporation of all three pull-up variants with systematic progression to provide greater global strengthening of the torso and upper limb musculature.

Keywords: athletic training; biomechanics; motion analysis; musculoskeletal modeling; rehabilitation; shoulder.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

REFERENCES

    1. Caine D, Nassar L. Gymnastics injuries. Med Sport Sci. 2005;48:18-58.
    1. Gerdes EM, Hafner JW, Aldag JC. Injury patterns and safety practices of rock climbers. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2006;61(6):1517-1525.
    1. Lusk SJ, Hale BD, Russell DM. Grip width and forearm orientation effects on muscle activity during the lat pull-down. J Strength Cond Res. 2010;24(7):1895-1900.
    1. Youdas JW, Amundson CL, Cicero KS, Hahn JJ, Harezlak DT, Hollman JH. Surface electromyographic activation patterns and elbow joint motion during a pull-up, chin-up, or perfect-pulluptm rotational exercise. J Strength Cond Res. 2010;24(12):3404-3414.
    1. Kibler W. The role of the scapula in athletic shoulder function. Am J Sports Med. 1998;26(2):325-337.

LinkOut - more resources