30 Seconds Summary
Does Your Rowing Grip Actually Affect Back Development?

April 23, 2023

Grip and grip width during rowing exercises influence which muscles in the back are targeted by affecting shoulder joint movements.
In the sagittal plane, a closer grip promotes shoulder extension, heavily involving the lats and minimally involving upper back muscles.
In the transverse plane, a wider grip leads to shoulder horizontal extension, emphasizing the upper back muscles like the teres minor, infraspinatus, and supraspinatus.
Scapular movement, such as retraction and protraction during rows, significantly impacts the trapezius and rhomboids, regardless of the type of shoulder movement.
Muscle development from rowing exercises also depends on scapular elevation, primarily involving the levator scapulae and portions of the trapezius.
Exercise programming should consider muscle functions, with diverse rowing variations recommended to target different muscles effectively.

Stronger By Science

Cameron Gill

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