Comparison of Electromyographic Activity during Barbell Pullover and Straight Arm Pulldown Exercises

Featured Application This manuscript performs an electromyographic analysis of two exercises for conditioning the upper muscle extremities. Thus, a greater knowledge for prescribing these exercises in strengthening or functional recovery programs will be obtained. 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.

Automated summary

This study compares the electromyographic activity of different muscles during the barbell Pullover exercise and straight arm pulldown exercise. Results show that the barbell Pullover exercise has higher activity levels in most muscles, while the straight arm pulldown exercise shows higher activity in the latissimus dorsi and triceps brachii muscles. Additionally, all exercises exhibit significantly greater electromyographic activity during the concentric phase compared to the eccentric phase.