They also train the nervous system and muscle tissue at the same time (as opposed to isolation exercises).
Compound exercises mimic natural movement and help improve coordination, reaction time and balance. Pull-ups can have many benefits for your physical health, from building muscle to improving your mood.īecause pull-ups utilise many muscles in one movement, they are known as a compound exercise. While the exercise itself is relatively simple, mastering it can be tricky for those who are new to strength training. Just like any bodyweight back exercise, this movement uses your body weight as resistance rather than external weights. When performing the movement you should focus on using your arms and shoulder muscles, and avoid shrugging your shoulders up. The pull-up movement uses multiple muscles at once, making it a compound exercise. Let’s start with the basics: what exactly is a pull-up? A pull-up is an upper-body exercise that involves hanging from a pull-up bar by your hands with your palms facing away from you, and lifting your entire body up with your arm and back muscles until your chest touches the bar.
Once you’re able to perform pull-up variations (and eventually a full pull-up), you’ll be able to reap the physical benefits of a strong upper body, while feeling great about mastering a challenging exercise.
You just need to know where and how to start, learn the correct form, and put in the time and effort. Perhaps you’ve given them a try before and thought, why are pull-ups so hard?ĭespite common misconceptions, it’s possible for anyone - even those without strong arm and back muscles - to conquer a pull-up. Pull-ups are a functional bodyweight exercise that is great for building upper-body strength, however, they are commonly known as one of those hard-to-master exercises that can be tricky for beginners.