INTRODUCTION

Are there differences between wide-gripped pull-ups and narrow-gripped pull-ups? In body building, muscle hypertrophy is a prime concern of competitors. To achieve this increased muscle mass, body builders engage in exercises that ensure maximum development of musculature. It is thought that one pull -up method develops muscles faster than the other. Upon viewing both pull-up movements with the unaided eye, it seems that there are fundamental biomechanical differences which aid in muscle development. These include joint position, joint velocity, and joint angle differences of the upper extremity.

The purpose of our investigation is to compare the biomechanics of the wide-gripped and narrow-gripped pull-ups to determine if there is an advantage in performing one pull-up method over the other. As movement science majors, we have studied the human anatomy and are interested in the body's biomechanics during movement. We analyzed the wide-gripped pull-up and narrow-gripped pull-up by comparing their joint position, joint velocity, segment and joint angles, and center of mass.