This study analyzed muscle activation patterns using electromyography (EMG) during four variations of the pull-up exercise: traditional pull-up, suspension pull-up, kipping pull-up, and towel pull-up. The results showed that: 1) The kipping pull-up produced significantly lower EMG activity than the other variations for the latissimus dorsi, mid-trapezius, and biceps brachii muscles. 2) No other significant differences in muscle activation were seen between the traditional, suspension, and towel pull-up variations. 3) The kipping pull-up is the easiest variation on the back muscles out of the four exercises tested.

1. A Comparative Electromyographical Investigation of Muscle Utilization
Patterns Using Various Hand Positions During the Lat Pull-down. JOSEPH F. S.
et al (JSCR, 2002)
a) Close grip
b) Supinated grip
c) Wide grip anterior
d) Wide grip posterior
¿dónde se activa más el pectoral?
¿Y el dorsal?
¿Y el deltoides posterior?
¿Y el redondo mayor?
¿Y la cabeza larga del triceps?

2. Tecnica de los ejerciciosF
A
S
E
C
O
N
C
E
N
T
R
I
C
A
a) Dorsal ancho
b) Pectoral mayor
c) Deltoides posterior
d) Cabeza larga del triceps
e) Redondo mayor

3. F
A
S
E
E
X
C
E
N
T
R
I
C
A
a) Dorsal ancho
b) Pectoral mayor
c) Deltoides posterior
d) Cabeza larga del triceps
e) Redondo mayor

4. ¿dónde se activa más el dorsal?
¿Y el biceps?
¿y el pectoral?
¿y el deltoides?
¿en la fase concéntrica o excentrica?

6. ¿Qúe músculos se activan?
¿cuál se activa más?

8. ences
n was
(PD),
l pull-
n (n =
ull-up
), and
es the
muscle
he KP
e MT,
ences
lower
dicate
body
TICAL
h and
e, the
useful
power.
cm, weight = 61.35 ± 6.44 kg) volunteered to participate in this study.
•Subjects performed three repetitions of each variation (pictured below) where the order of
the exercises was randomized.
•Normalized (%MVC) EMG values were recorded and analyzed for each muscle group
tested during all five movements.
PU
SP
KP
TP
Pull-Up
(PU)
Kipping Pull-up
(KP)
Suspension Pull-up
(SP)
PU
up
• These r
decreased
significant
• The onl
significant
• No addi
Towel Pull-up
(TP)
ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC COMPARISON OF
PULL-UP VARIATIONS
scular strength and endurance
icial for improving functions of
and preventing injuries of the
yographical (EMG) differences
urpose of this investigation was
si (LD), posterior deltoid (PD),
ariations of the traditional pull-
25.56 ± 7.47) and women (n =
performed a traditional pull-up
(SP), towel pull-up (TP), and
ith grip width of 1.5 times the
were recorded for each muscle
rovided within Table 1. The KP
maining exercises. For the MT,
and PU. Lastly, no differences
KP provided significantly lower
riations. These results indicate
Ronald L. Snarr, Ashleigh V. Hallmark, Jason C. Casey, Brett S. Nickerson, and Michael R. Esco
Department of Kinesiology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
ResultsMethods
•Recreationally trained men (n=9, mean age = 25.56 ± 7.47, height = 175.85 ± 8.04 cm,
weight = 80.42 ± 10.40 kg) and women (n=2, mean age = 23 ± 22.83, height = 163.83 ± 1.8
cm, weight = 61.35 ± 6.44 kg) volunteered to participate in this study.
•Subjects performed three repetitions of each variation (pictured below) where the order of
the exercises was randomized.
•Normalized (%MVC) EMG values were recorded and analyzed for each muscle group
tested during all five movements.
Maximal Voluntary Contra
LD BB
PU
83.55 ± 23.14 43.66 ± 15.16 57.6
SP
88.21 ± 18.33 44.85 ± 16.93 55.5
KP
73.27 ± 24.99* 35.31 ± 12.48† 44.6
TP
87.48 ± 21.37 39.48 ± 17.29 48.6
Table 1. Comparison of the normalized (%MVC) EMG
between the different exercises.
PU = Traditional pull-up, SP = Suspension device pull-up, KP
up, LD = Latissimus Dorsi, BB = Biceps Brachii, MT = Mid
*Significantly lower than PU, SPU, an
†Significantly lower than PU, and SPU
Conclusions

9. ¿dónde se activa menos el dorsal?
¿dónde se activa más el dorsal?
¿dónde se activa menos el trapecio medio?
¿dónde se activa menos el biceps?
¿dónde se activa más el deltoides posterior?

10. Maximal Voluntary Contraction (%MVC)
LD BB MT PD
PU
83.55 ± 23.14 43.66 ± 15.16 57.67 ± 14.14 112.25 ± 80.47
SP
88.21 ± 18.33 44.85 ± 16.93 55.59 ± 14.87 108.32 ± 70.91
KP
73.27 ± 24.99* 35.31 ± 12.48† 44.69 ± 15.4† 100. 89 ± 77.47
TP
87.48 ± 21.37 39.48 ± 17.29 48.63 ± 14.13† 103.74 ± 71.04
Table 1. Comparison of the normalized (%MVC) EMG of the selected musculature
between the different exercises.
PU = Traditional pull-up, SP = Suspension device pull-up, KP = Kipping pull-up, TP = Towel pull-
up, LD = Latissimus Dorsi, BB = Biceps Brachii, MT = Mid-Trapezius, PD = Posterior Deltoid
*Significantly lower than PU, SPU, and TP (p < 0.05)
†Significantly lower than PU, and SPU (p < 0.05)

11. ¿dónde se activa mas el dorsal?
¿dónde se activan más los erectores espinales
superiores?
¿dónde se activan más los erectores espinales
lumbares?
¿dónde se activa más el glúteo mayor y medio?
¿dónde se activa más el oblicuo interno?
¿En que ejercicio hay mayor compresión?

12. RRA: recto abdominal d.
LRA: recto abdominal iz.
REO: oblicuo externo d
LEO: oblicuo externo iz.
RIO: oblicuo interno d.
LIO: oblicuo interno iz.
RLD: dorsal derecho
LLD: dorsal izquierdo
RUES: erectores esp. sup
LUES: erectores esp. sup
RLES: erectores esp lum
LLES: erectores esp lum
RGMED: gluteo medio d
RGMAX: gluteo mayor d
RBF: biceps femoral d
RRF: recto femoral d