Strengthen Your Upper Back

In men’s physique, the first glimpse that can make a person stand apart is the lats waist ratio.
While preparing for any bodybuilding contest whatsoever achieving a good level of conditioning is meant for the final weeks. It is mainly the structure that matters. That may take years of training.
And then broad shoulders, in general too, give an elegant and imposing look and an advantage aesthetically.

While genetics is the primary factor in deciding how well the back can develop and determine its potential unless and until we do actual work on developing it, the potential will never be reached and never be known. Besides, looking good, a strong back helps in maintaining a good positive, helps the spine strong, and is beneficial even when we need to sit and work for prolonged hours, as that too needs considerable endurance. A person would find it extremely challenging to sit upright for a long period and perform an activity that needs it, say reading, writing, attending a lecture playing chess, at a championship, and so on, besides activities that demand high physical endurance. Hope these exercises will help you in designing a workout schedule, most suitable for you.

This is one of the best exercises for developing the upper back. It does not need any elaborate gym equipment. Therefore it is truly worthwhile to master this move. It takes a while to get the knack for it and develop the strength for this exercise. Nevertheless, it is one of the best exercises and helps us to handle our own body weight well. Bodyweight exercise makes us more consciously aware of our body too.

Variations

This exercise can be done with a supine grip. In that case, the same guidelines will be followed. Besides the rhomboids, middle and lower positions of the trapezius, teres major, and lattismus dorsi, the pectoralis also contracts. Also, the biceps brachialis, brachioradialisget very intensely worked.

So the chin-up can be included in the arm workout program also. On the arm workout day, you will not be too fatigued as you will be isolating and working the smaller muscles. So it is a good variation to give on the arm day. It also helps in burning calories.

BRINGING THE BAR TO THE CHEST WITH ELBOWS BEHIND

It solicits the upper and central fibres of the latissimus dorsi. This variation is excellent for developing the bulk of the back. Bring the elbows, alongside the body mainly solicits the lateral fibres of the Latissimus dorsi and develops the width of the back.

The lat-pull-down machine guides the movement, as you execute it. Sit and grasp the bar with an overhand (prone) grip. Right from the start, begin to contract the latissimus dorsi.

Tips

Variations

Stand in front of the machine. Hold the bar, shoulder-width apart with a prone (overhand grip). Keeping the arms extended.Inhale and bring the bar to the thighs.

Exhale at the end of the movement. This exercise strengthens the Lattismus Dorsi and the Teres Major. It also strengthens the long head of the triceps which stabilises the arm trunk hinge. This exercise is particularly useful to improve the crawl stroke in swimmers.

Variations

CLOSE GRIP LAT PULL DOWN – A separate attachment is used on the lat-pull down machine, holding it, as the palms face each other.

With feet firmly on the ground, slightly bent knees, holds the bar with an overhand grip, slightly more than shoulder-width apart. Lean slightly forward, about 45 degrees. Inhale and hold the core in an isometric contraction. Pull the barbell towards the chest retracting the scapula. Return to the initial position in a controlled way and exhale.

This exercise recruits the latissimus dorsi, teres major, posterior deltoids, forearm flexors (biceps brachii, brachialis, brachioradialis). When the shoulder blades contract, the rhomboids, and trapezius contract. The spine also gets an isometric contraction. By changing the grip on the bar (supine or pronated), the width at which it is held, or by training the body at different angles, the back muscles can be recruited from different angles.

Sit facing the machine, feet rising on the footrest. Hold the handle of the machine. Pull the elbows back, retracting the scapula.The latissimus dorsi, teres major, posterior deltoid, and the forearm flexors that are the same muscles get worked as in the bent over row. While raising the chest, the spinal muscles, (erector spinae) also contract to allow the weight to pull you on the return, helps to develop the flexibility of the back.

Variations

At the end of the movement- Trapezius, and rhomboids – Bicep brachii, brachioradialis, and brachialis(forearm flexors) are also used. This is done using a dumbell in one hand. The other arm and knee are rested on a bench to support the back. The upper arm and elbow are lifted with the elbow bent to perform the row. The torso is slightly towards the working side to maximize the contraction.

It is another variation of the rowing move that works all the back muscles. It allows you to focus on the back as you do not have to focus too much effort on the positioning.
The forward lean isolates the abdominal and spinal muscles in isometric contraction.
Variation in T-Bar. If a supinated grip is used, the tricep and the upper portion of the trapezius also get worked to some extent.

Variations

Some machines have abdominal support. In these cases, the isometric contraction of abdominal muscles does not take place because of the support. A pronated grip in this exercise will recruit the bicep brachii and upper trapezius. Very heavyweight in this variation exercise will interfere with breathing and is thus not advisable.

Stand facing the barbell, legs slightly apart with abdominal muscles contracted, back slightly arched. Bend the knees, until the thighs are horizontal on the floor. Whether the thighs are exactly horizontal or not, also depends upon the flexibility at the ankles and the physical structure of the person doing it. If they are flexible and a person has short femus and arms, the thighs will be exactly horizontal. If the femur and arms are long then the thighs will be above horizontal.

Grasp the bar with a reverse power grip- one overhand and one underhand grip. This will keep the bar from rolling and allows you to use much heavier weights. Inhale and hold the breath. Contract the abdominal muscles and the lower back. Recruit the gluteus. The gluteus is a large muscle and engaging it consciously will take the load off more fragile and sensitive joints and muscles.

Lift the bar and allow the bar to slide up the shens. When the bar reaches the knees, straighten your torso, while straightening the leg. It is extremely important to keep the back straight and maintain a neutral spine. Exhale at the end of the movement. The deadlift is a power move. Nearly every muscle in the body is recruited in this exercise. It specifically works the quadriceps and gluteal muscles intensely. It is also very effective for the development of the lumbosacral and trapezius muscles.

There are two variations in this exercise lying back extension and seated back extension. This exercise mainly develops the group of paraspinal erectors of the spine.

And to a lesser degree, gluteus maximus and the hamstrings except for the short head of the bicep femoris. Complete flexion of the torso develops the flexibility of the lumbosacral mass like in the yoga posture. (paschimottan aasan). The exercise done on an Incline bench is easier for beginners. Seated back extension also focuses on the lumbosacral mass of the spinal muscles. Gluteus + Hamstring except for the short head of the bicep femori.

INJURIES THAT CAN OCCUR WHILE TRAINING THE BACK

Although it is not the most used muscle when working the back the long head of the triceps brachii gets injured very frequently, when heavy lat pull-downs are done or when weights are added while doing chin-ups. The lattismus dorsi is a powerful fan-shaped muscle that attaches the arm to the rib cage. (The distal tendon of the rib cage attaches to the humerus.)This is the main climbing muscle.

The main function of the tricep brachii, is to extend the forearm. Secondly to bring the arm towards the rib cage. In this way, it complements the action of the latissimus dorsi.  Tearing of the long head of the triceps occurs when the muscle is fatigued, most frequently after an improper warm up. It only takes a sudden relaxation of the latissimus dorsi during chin-ups with added weights to immediately shift the tension to the long head of the tricep.

Fortunately, the tear is rarely complete. It occurs close to the insertion on the scapula. One can still perform rowing moves, and movements for triceps such as forearm extensions at a high pulley, with elbows next to the body, provided you are using lightweight. Tearing of the long head of the triceps may also occur during the bench press. In all cases, it is advisable to warm up before beginning exercise. This goes a long way in the prevention of injuries.