Push, push, push, you gotta push. We hear this all the time when we are being encouraged to progress ourselves forward in a given task. So much so that it may lead us to believe that pushing is the top dog when it comes to movement patterns. Our whole lives, we are lead to believe that pushing exercises are what we should focus on. How many times have you heard someone say, “How much you bench?”. Now don’t get me wrong, I love a good pushing exercise and believe that they are needed. BUT, the number of underdeveloped humans when it comes to pulling exercises is sad to say the least. Training upper body pulling can keep you feel fresh and healthy. Let’s learn why:
Understanding the Importance of Shoulder Health:
Your shoulders are remarkable joints that allow a wide range of movements, from lifting and pushing to reaching and throwing. Unfortunately, they are also prone to injuries and discomfort, especially if not properly cared for. To keep your shoulders in top shape and prevent common issues like impingements or rotator cuff strains, it’s essential to engage in exercises that promote shoulder stability and strength. This is where pulling exercises come into the picture.
The Beauty of Pulling Exercises:
Pulling exercises are fantastic because they target the muscles responsible for drawing your arms toward your body. These muscles include the rhomboids, traps, deltoids, and most importantly, the lats (latissimus dorsi). By focusing on these muscles, pulling exercises help create a balanced and stable shoulder joint, mitigating the risks of injuries and improving overall shoulder function.
Enhancing Posture and Alignment:
In our modern lifestyles, we tend to spend long hours sitting or hunching over electronic devices, leading to poor posture and weak upper back muscles. Pulling exercises counteract this problem by working the muscles that pull your shoulders back and down, promoting better alignment. As a result, you’ll stand taller, with shoulders that are less prone to rounding forward, reducing the strain on your neck and upper back.
Strengthening the Rotator Cuff:
The rotator cuff is a group of small muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder joint. Weak rotator cuff muscles can make your shoulders vulnerable to injuries during various activities, including weightlifting and sports. Pulling exercises engage and strengthen these crucial muscles, enhancing their ability to support and protect your shoulders during movements.
Preventing Muscle Imbalances:
In many training routines, pushing exercises, like bench presses and push-ups, often take center stage, while pulling exercises are neglected. This imbalance can lead to overdeveloped chest muscles and underdeveloped back muscles, creating an unhealthy shoulder girdle. Incorporating pulling exercises into your routine helps balance the strength of opposing muscle groups, fostering stability and reducing the risk of injuries.
Promoting Scapular Mobility:
The scapula (shoulder blade) is an integral part of shoulder movement. Efficient scapular mobility is crucial for a healthy shoulder joint. Pulling exercises, such as rows and pull-ups, require coordinated scapular movements, improving scapular mobility and enhancing your overall shoulder mechanics.
Now we hope you all have a better understand as to why we train pulling exercises the way we do and know their importance. If you have been skipping out on these days, we hope this will help get you in the door!