Throughout my years as a trainer, I've noticed that some people love to train their upper body, whereas others tend to focus more on their lower body. But regardless of their personal preference, back muscles are among the most neglected, says UFC GYM Long Island Fitness Director . There are likely many reasons for the lack of attention paid toward back exercises.
For one, your back isn't in your own line of sight, so it doesn't necessarily get the same love that more visible muscles do. For another, certain back muscles can be difficult to target, so people skip back exercises altogether and assume their other upper-body moves will do the job. And some arm exercises also hit back muscles — but back-specific exercises are necessary too.
After all, back exercises have many crucial benefits you don't want to miss out on. "Back exercises are important for posture, to help strengthen your core, and to prevent injuries," Brun tells PS. "They're especially important to incorporate as you age to ensure that you don't develop a curvature that can make it look like you're hunched over or slouching.
" Before jumping into back exercises for the first time, it helps to know which specific muscles you're targeting. "The back is a very broad muscle group which contains your lats, lower-back, upper-back, and mid-back," Brun says. He adds that different exercises strengthen different back muscles: "Bent-over-row exercises and pull-ups are best for targeting your lats, while close-grip exerc.