Comparison of Electromyographic Activity during Barbell Pullover and Straight Arm Pulldown Exercises
Source abstract
Abstract
Pullover and straight arm pulldown exercises are commonly used in resistance exercise programs to improve sports performance or in physical activity health programs. This study aimed to evaluate the individual electromyographic (EMG) activity of the pectoralis major (clavicular, sternal, and costal portions), latissimus dorsi, anterior deltoid, triceps brachii, and rectus abdominis muscles in a barbell pullover exercise at a 100% biacromial width and a straight arm pulldown exercise at a 100% and 150% biacromial width and to compare the EMG activity in these selected muscles and exercises. Twenty healthy and physically active adults performed a set of eight repetitions of each exercise against 30% of their body mass. The barbell pullover exercise presented a higher EMG activity (p ≤ 0.01) than the straight arm pulldown exercise in both biacromial widths in all evaluated muscles except for the latissimus dorsi and the triceps brachii. These muscles showed the highest EMG activity in the straight arm pulldown exercise at both biacromial widths. In all of the exercises and muscles evaluated, the concentric phase showed a greater EMG activity than the eccentric phase. In conclusion, the barbell pullover exercise can highlight muscle activity in the pectoralis major (mainly in the sternal and lower portions), triceps brachii, and rectus abdominis muscles. However, the straight arm pulldown exercise at 100% and 150% biacromial widths could be a better exercise to stimulate the latissimus dorsi and triceps brachii muscles. Moreover, all exercises showed significantly greater EMG activity (p < 0.001) in the concentric phase than in the eccentric phase for all the evaluated muscles.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Muscle activation and electromyography studies · Sports Performance and Training · Children's Physical and Motor Development
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Laboratory of Kinesiology Biomechanics and Ergonomics (KIBIOMER Lab.), University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
Health Research Centre, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
Department of Physical Education, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Funding
University of Almeria Mobility Grants
References (40)
Show source-provided references
1. Langer, K., Simon, C., and Wiemeyer, J. (2022). Strength Training in Climbing: A Systematic Review. J. Strength Cond. Res.10.1519/JSC.0000000000004286 ↗
2. Influence of Progressive Upper Limb Strength Training on Table Tennis Athletes10.1590/1517-8692202228062022_0100 ↗
3. Effectiveness of Elongation Band Exercise on the Upper Limb Strength and Range of Motion among Older Adults10.12965/jer.2244080.040 ↗
4. Strength Training Associated with Task-Oriented Training to Enhance Upper-Limb Motor Function in Elderly Patients with Mild Impairment after Stroke10.1097/PHM.0000000000000135 ↗
5. Effects of Two Different Weight Training Programs on Swimming Performance and Muscle Enzyme Activities and Fiber Type10.1519/JSC.0000000000000842 ↗
6. The Effect of Resistance Exercise Priming in the Morning on Afternoon Sprint Cross-Country Skiing Performance10.1123/ijspp.2020-0881 ↗
7. The Effects of Circuit Strength Training on the Development of Physical Fitness and Performance-Related Variables in Handball Players10.2478/hukin-2019-0083 ↗
8. Effects of In-Season Circuit Training on Physical Abilities in Male Handball Players10.1519/JSC.0000000000002270 ↗
9. Effect of Eight Weeks of Upper-Body Plyometric Training during the Competitive Season on Professional Female Volleyball Players
10. The Effects of Heavy Upper-Body Strength Training on Ice Sledge Hockey Sprint Abilities in World Class Players10.1016/j.humov.2014.10.004 ↗
11. Effects of Resistance Exercise on Cardiopulmonary Factors in Sedentary Individuals10.1589/jpts.28.213 ↗
12. Liao, C.-N., Fan, C.-H., Hsu, W.-H., Chang, C.-F., Yu, P.-A., Kuo, L.-T., Lu, B.-L., and Hsu, R.W.-W. (2022). Twelve-Week Lower Trapezius-Centred Muscular Training Regimen in University Archers. Healthcare, 10.10.3390/healthcare10010171 ↗
13. Does Split-Body Resistance Training Routine Performed Two versus Three Days per Week Induce Distinct Strength and Morphological Adaptations in Resistance-Trained Men? A Randomized Longitudinal Study
14. Stastny, P., Gołaś, A., Blazek, D., Maszczyk, A., Wilk, M., Pietraszewski, P., Petr, M., Uhlir, P., and Zajac, A. (2017). A Systematic Review of Surface Electromyography Analyses of the Bench Press Movement Task. PLoS ONE, 12.10.1371/journal.pone.0171632 ↗
15. Oliva-Lozano, J.M., and Muyor, J.M. (2020). Core Muscle Activity during Physical Fitness Exercises: A Systematic Review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 17.10.3390/ijerph17124306 ↗
16. Martín-Fuentes, I., Oliva-Lozano, J.M., and Muyor, J.M. (2020). Electromyographic Activity in Deadlift Exercise and Its Variants. A Systematic Review. PLoS ONE, 15.10.1371/journal.pone.0229507 ↗
17. Activation of Pectoralis Major and Deltoid during Bench Press and Pullover Exercises until the Concentric Failure
18. Differences between Pullover and Pulldown Exercises on Maximal Isometric Force and Myoelectric Activity in Recreationally-Trained Me
19. Comparison of Electromyographic Activity during the Bench Press and Barbell Pullover Exercises10.1590/S1980-65742014000200010 ↗
20. Effects of the Pullover Exercise on the Pectoralis Major and Latissimus Dorsi Muscles as Evaluated by Emg10.1123/jab.27.4.380 ↗
21. A Review of the Acute Effects and Long-Term Adaptations of Single- and Multi-Joint Exercises during Resistance Training10.1007/s40279-016-0627-5 ↗
22. Ratamess, N. (2012). ACSM’s Foundations of Strength Training and Conditioning, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Wolters Kluswer.
23. Electromyographic Muscle Activity in Curl-up Exercises with Different Positions of Upper and Lower Extremities10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181ddb308 ↗
24. Rodríguez-Ridao, D., Antequera-Vique, J.A., Martín-Fuentes, I., and Muyor, J.M. (2020). Effect of Five Bench Inclinations on the Electromyographic Activity of the Pectoralis Major, Anterior Deltoid, and Triceps Brachii during the Bench Press Exercise. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 17.10.3390/ijerph17197339 ↗
25. Muyor, J.M., Rodríguez-Ridao, D., Martín-Fuentes, I., and Antequera-Vique, J.A. (2019). Evaluation and Comparison of Electromyographic Activity in Bench Press with Feet on the Ground and Active Hip Flexion. PLoS ONE, 14.10.1371/journal.pone.0218209 ↗
26. Standards for Surface Electromyography: The European Project Surface EMG for Non-Invasive Assessment of Muscles (SENIAM)
27. Electromyographical Activity of the Pectoralis Muscle during Incline and Decline Bench Presses
28. Effect of Isometric Horizontal Abduction on Pectoralis Major and Serratus Anterior EMG Activity during Three Exercises in Subjects with Scapular Winging10.1016/j.jelekin.2012.11.013 ↗
29. Selective Activation of the Latissimus Dorsi and the Inferior Fibers of Trapezius at Various Shoulder Angles during Isometric Pull-down Exertion10.1016/j.jelekin.2013.08.006 ↗
30. Electromyographic Activity and 6rm Strength in Bench Press on Stable and Unstable Surfaces10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182606d3d ↗
31. Comparison of Muscle Activation Using Various Hand Positions during the Push-up Exercise
32. Influence of Pelvis Position on the Activation of Abdominal and Hip Flexor Muscles10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181739981 ↗
33. Cohen, J. (2013). Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences, Routledge. [2nd ed.].10.4324/9780203771587 ↗
34. Muyor, J.M., Martín-Fuentes, I., Rodríguez-Ridao, D., and Antequera-Vique, J.A. (2020). Electromyographic Activity in the Gluteus Medius, Gluteus Maximus, Biceps Femoris, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis and Rectus Femoris during the Monopodal Squat, Forward Lunge and Lateral Step-Up Exercises. PLoS ONE, 15.10.1371/journal.pone.0230841 ↗
35. Hamill, J., Knutzen, K.M., and Derrick, T.R. (2015). Biomechanical Basis of Human Movement, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
36. White, A.A., and Panjabi, M.M. (1990). Clinical Biomechanics of the Spine, J. B. Lippincott Company. [2nd ed.].
37. Neuromuscular Efficiency of the Rectus Abdominis Differs with Gender and Sport Practice10.1519/JSC.0b013e31817bd529 ↗
38. Voluntary Increase in Latissimus Dorsi Muscle Activity during the Lat Pull-down Following Expert Instruction10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181bb7213 ↗
39. Bilateral Anterior Glenohumeral Dislocation in a Weightlifter10.1016/0020-1383(90)90020-U ↗
40. Changes in Bar Velocity and Muscular Activity during the Bench Press in Relation to the Load Lifted