Horizontal pull-ups on parallel bars

Horizontal pull-ups on parallel bars are a good alternative for those who cannot do pull-ups on a bar. It’s a great way to learn how to pull up for beginners, and for those who can already do pull-ups, this exercise can be used as an additional movement after the main ones. Both the back and arms work excellently in this variation, as you are pulling approximately 2/3 of your body weight.

Nuances and mistakes

1. When lowering yourself down, make sure to lower on straight arms. You can even let your pelvis drop slightly (allowing it to sag). This will help to better stretch the latissimus dorsi muscles.

2. However, at the top position, your back and legs should be in a straight line. You should pull up as high as possible while squeezing your shoulder blades together and pushing your chest forward.

3. It’s better not to flare your elbows out to the sides but to keep them close to your body or close to it. This will allow the latissimus dorsi muscles to contract more effectively.

4. Grip the bars so that your wrists are approximately at the level of the solar plexus at the top position, and your forearms are roughly perpendicular to the floor.