Surface Electromyographic Activation Patterns and Elbow Joint Motion During a Pull-Up, Chin-Up, or Perfect-Pullup™ Rotational Exercise

Youdas, JW, Amundson, CL, Cicero, KS, Hahn, JJ, Harezlak, DT, and Hollman, JH. Surface electromyographic activation patterns and elbow joint motion during a pull-up, chin-up, or Perfect-Pullup™ rotational exercise. J Strength Cond Res 24(12): 3404-3414, 2010-This study compared a conventional pull-up and chin-up with a rotational exercise using Perfect·Pullup™ twisting handles. Twenty-one men (24.9 ± 2.4 years) and 4 women (23.5 ± 1 years) volunteered to participate. Electromyographic (EMG) signals were collected with DE-3.1 double-differential surface electrodes at a sampling frequency of 1,000 Hz. The EMG signals were normalized to peak activity in the maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) trial and expressed as a percentage. Motion analysis data of the elbow were obtained using Vicon Nexus software. One-factor repeated measures analysis of variance examined the muscle activation patterns and kinematic differences between the 3 pull-up exercises. Average EMG muscle activation values (%MVIC) were as follows: latissimus dorsi (117-130%), biceps brachii (78-96%), infraspinatus (71-79%), lower trapezius (45-56%), pectoralis major (44-57%), erector spinae (39-41%), and external oblique (31-35%). The pectoralis major and biceps brachii had significantly higher EMG activation during the chin-up than during the pull-up, whereas the lower trapezius was significantly more active during the pull-up. No differences were detected between the Perfect·Pullup™ with twisting handles and the conventional pull-up and chin-up exercises. The mean absolute elbow joint range of motion was 93.4 ± 14.6°, 100.6 ± 14.5°, and 99.8 ± 11.7° for the pull-up, chin-up, and rotational exercise using the Perfect·Pullup™ twisting handles, respectively. For each exercise condition, the timing of peak muscle activation was expressed as a percentage of the complete pull-up cycle. A general pattern of sequential activation occurred suggesting that pull-ups and chin-ups were initiated by the lower trapezius and pectoralis major and completed with biceps brachii and latissimus dorsi recruitment. The Perfect·Pullup™ rotational device does not appear to enhance muscular recruitment when compared to the conventional pull-up or chin-up.

[1]  D. Stetts,et al.  Electromyographical analysis of selected lower extremity muscles during 5 unilateral weight-bearing exercises. , 2007, The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy.

[2]  M. Benjamin.  Hollinshead's Functional Anatomy of the Limbs and Back , 1991 .

[3]  J. Perry,et al.  Electromyographic analysis of the glenohumeral muscles during a baseball rehabilitation program. , 1991, The American journal of sports medicine.

[4]  Brian Benjamin,et al.  Shoulder Strength and Range‐Of‐Motion Characteristics in Bodybuilders , 2002, Journal of strength and conditioning research.

[5]  S. McGill,et al.  Low back loads over a variety of abdominal exercises: searching for the safest abdominal challenge. , 1997, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[6]  Claude T Moorman,et al.  An electromyographic analysis of commercial and common abdominal exercises: implications for rehabilitation and training. , 2006, The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy.

[7]  Kenneth J. Faber,et al.  Serratus Anterior Muscle Activity During Selected Rehabilitation Exercises , 1999, The American journal of sports medicine.

[8]  E. Chao,et al.  A biomechanical study of normal functional elbow motion. , 1981, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume.

[9]  Robert M. Cogley,et al.  COMPARISON OF MUSCLE ACTIVATION USING VARIOUS HAND POSITIONS DURING THE PUSH‐UP EXERCISE , 2005, Journal of strength and conditioning research.

[10]  J. R. Scotti,et al.  Available From , 1973 .

[11]  R. Pate,et al.  Validity of field tests of upper body muscular strength. , 1993, Research quarterly for exercise and sport.

[12]  J. Sallis,et al.  Tracking of health-related fitness components in youth ages 9 to 12. , 1998, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[13]  Silvano Mior,et al.  Muscle Testing, Techniques of Manual Examination , 1985 .

[14]  J. Perry,et al.  An electromyographic analysis of the upper extremity in pitching. , 1992, Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery.

[15]  Per Aagaard,et al.  Neuromuscular activation in conventional therapeutic exercises and heavy resistance exercises: implications for rehabilitation. , 2006, Physical therapy.

[16]  Position Stand.  American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. , 2009, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[17]  T. D. Koukoubis,et al.  An electromyographic study of arm muscles during climbing , 2005, Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy.

[18]  Darin A Padua,et al.  Gluteal muscle activation during common therapeutic exercises. , 2009, The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy.

[19]  G. D. P. M. DipTP.  Introduction to Surface Electromyography , 1998 .

[20]  Frank W. Jobe,et al.  EMG analysis of the scapular muscles during a shoulder rehabilitation program , 1992, The American journal of sports medicine.

[21]  R. Newton,et al.  An Analysis of the Ratio and Relationship Between Upper Body Pressing and Pulling Strength , 2004, Journal of strength and conditioning research.

[22]  D. Neumann.  Kinesiology of the musculoskeletal system : foundations for physical rehabilitation , 2002 .

[23]  C. Durall,et al.  Avoiding Shoulder Injury From Resistance Training , 2001 .

[24]  K. A. Provins,et al.  Maximum torque exerted about the elbow joint. , 1955, Journal of applied physiology.

[25]  J. Signorile,et al.  A Comparative Electromyographical Investigation of Muscle Utilization Patterns Using Various Hand Positions During the Lat Pull‐down , 2002, Journal of strength and conditioning research.

[26]  Timothy C Sell,et al.  On-the-Field Resistance-Tubing Exercises for Throwers: An Electromyographic Analysis. , 2005, Journal of athletic training.

[27]  Edgar Erdfelder,et al.  G*Power 3: A flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences , 2007, Behavior research methods.

[28]  Daniel J. Antonelli,et al.  An electromyographic analysis of shoulder function in tennis players , 1988, The American journal of sports medicine.

[29]  R. A. Ekstrom,et al.  Electromyographic analysis of core trunk, hip, and thigh muscles during 9 rehabilitation exercises. , 2007, The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy.

[30]  Bruce R Wilk,et al.  Core muscle activation during Swiss ball and traditional abdominal exercises. , 2010, The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy.

[31]  Nigel Zheng,et al.  Electromyographic analysis of the rotator cuff and deltoid musculature during common shoulder external rotation exercises. , 2004, The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy.

[32]  G. L. Soderberg,et al.  Surface electromyographic analysis of exercises for the trapezius and serratus anterior muscles. , 2003, The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy.

[33]  The Effect of Experimental Alterations in Excess Mass on Pull‐up Performance in Fit Young Men , 1997 .

[34]  J. Basmajian,et al.  Integrated actions and functions of the chief flexors of the elbow: a detailed electromyographic analysis. , 1957, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume.