Back development, a complex issue that takes a complex approach. This is a point most trainers are only mildly aware of. Not being knowledgeable enough in back anatomy they train it like they would their chest which in comparison is rather simple.
The back is actually comprised of a number of muscle groups that must be directly addressed to be successful at creating a complete back with width, density, and separation between the individual muscle groups that coexist there. Complete back development is a hallmark that tells others you know what you are doing, because proper back training is hard, exhausting, uncomfortable, and can be as intimidating as leg training.
Training this body part takes an exceptional mind/muscle link that must be sustained throughout the entire set of each exercise and you must know what part of the back you are trying to target on any given movement. Back development cannot be attained by using general catchall exercises, the result will be a lackluster, unbalanced look.
The muscle groups involved in the back complex are as follows. Upper and middle Trapezius, posterior deltoid, teres major, rhomboids, upper and lower latissimus dorsi, and spinal erectors. That is eight different muscle groups, albeit the upper and lower lats and traps work together in some exercises but they cannot be totally developed by just doing these exercises, they need direct targeting in the right order of an exercise sequence.
Reasons for failure in back development are as follows. Ignorance of what exercises actually work what part of the back, not realizing the back actually consist of individual muscle groups inhabiting a concentrated area, using too much weight in very poor form, not being able to see the back while training, having a zero mind/muscle link, and an inability to feel the target muscles working.
Starting with width and that is where you should start, there are various types of chins and pulldowns. While wide grip chins are touted as superior to wide grip pulldowns, I beg to differ as most people do not possess the strength necessary to maintain proper body and arm position, especially on the last reps of a hard set, instead the movement turns into a free for all as they attempt to get themselves up close to the chin bar.
And if you are going to use one of those weight assisted machines to displace some of your body weight you might as well just do pulldowns anyway. Do not look at pulldowns as a wimpy second choice reserved for weaklings, instead it allows you to pull weight through a very controlled movement and custom target the back muscles, something that is very hard to do with chins. You control the speed of the positive and negative aspects of the exercise as well as where you want the bar to touch in the contracted position, thus allowing concentrated emphasis on the specific area you are trying to build.
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