Pull Down exercise question

[bennos]

I do cable 'rear pull downs' as part of my back exercises. I've noticed a lot of people do these but pull down to the front instead of the back.

To execute front pull downs you lean slightly backwards where the pull down to the back you lean slightly forward. Anyone know what this slight difference will change in the muscles worked?

 

[illiniphase4]

I do cable 'rear pull downs' as part of my back exercises. I've noticed a lot of people do these but pull down to the front instead of the back.

To execute front pull downs you lean slightly backwards where the pull down to the back you lean slightly forward. Anyone know what this slight difference will change in the muscles worked?

Your lats are going to be more involved in front side pull downs while your lower fibers of your traps are going to feel it more if you pull the bar down behind your head. There are two main reason that it is better to do a front side pull up though:
1. it's harder to control what you can't see, and somewhat common for people to jack themselves in the back when they pull the bar down behind themselves.
2. more importantly, pulling the bar down behind your head places a of extra unneeded stress on the shoulders. Look at it this way, when you're hanging off the side of a cliff, you don't pull your back up over the cliff. Essentially it's not a "functional" movement to pull the bar down behind your head.

 

[bennos]

2. more importantly, pulling the bar down behind your head places a of extra unneeded stress on the shoulders.

Going behind the head will work the shoulders more then going to the front of the head... but not in a positive way? You're right about jacking yourself when going behind the head, I've cracked myself quite a few times.

 

[xswtsalvationx0]

You don't lean back at all doing pulldowns and then lean foward again bringing the bar up. That's cheating because you will never gain the pull up strength. I do them like I would do a pull up.