How to do straight arm pulldown back exercises

This is an animated body sculpting tutorial for straight arm pulldown back exercises. Use the controls to pause, slow down and follow along with detailed step-by-step text instructions that match up with each movement. This instructional fitness body building video is incredibly in depth and a great guide for learning straight arm pulldown back exercises.

How to do Straight Arm Pulldown - Back Muscles

Learn how to do straight arm pulldowns. The straight arm pulldown is a back exercise where you pull down a bar with extended arms. This exercise works the lattissimus and partially also the pectoralis minor.

Description: Straight Arm Pulldown - Back Muscles

* Stand in front of a lat pulldown machine and grasp the bar with an overgrip or put your palms flat on the bar (palms facing down). Grasp the bar with your hands between 1 and 2 shoulder widths apart. The elbows should be bent slightly (arms not totally extended). Bend your legs a little and keep your abs tight. The upper body should hardly move when you pull the bar down. It doesn´t really matter if you keep your trunk vertical. As long as you don´t create momentum or stress your lower back, it`s ok if you bend forward a bit.
* Pull the bar down towards your thighs without bending the elbows and exhale. Press your shoulders down and back and squeeze your back muscles when the bar touches your thighs. You can move back a little as you pull the bar down, so that your upper body is vertical, but don´t lean forward and don´t try to create momentum with your upper body.
* Let the bar move back up to the beginning position and inhale at the same time. Stop when the bar reaches head height and then pull it back down. You can lean forward slightly as you raise the bar, or keep your upper body still during the entire exercise. Either way, make sure you keep your abs tight. The up motion should be slightly slower than the down motion.