Comments on: The physics of pull-ups http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/the-physics-of-pull-ups.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 18 May 2013 19:38:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Craig Knaak http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/the-physics-of-pull-ups.html#comment-1681409 Craig Knaak Sun, 17 Mar 2013 06:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219042#comment-1681409 Odd. I have long arms and a high body mass for my height, yet I've always been able to crank out more pull ups than the average person. (x20-30 @ 200 lbs 5"11 w/ 76" reach) Odd. I have long arms and a high body mass for my height, yet I’ve always been able to crank out more pull ups than the average person. (x20-30 @ 200 lbs 5″11 w/ 76″ reach)

]]> By: Felton / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/the-physics-of-pull-ups.html#comment-1681238 Felton / Moderator Sat, 16 Mar 2013 18:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219042#comment-1681238 I concentrate on touching the bar to my chest, and it seems to go more easily.  I generally do about ten, but it took me a while to work up to that. I concentrate on touching the bar to my chest, and it seems to go more easily.  I generally do about ten, but it took me a while to work up to that.

]]> By: Rich S http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/the-physics-of-pull-ups.html#comment-1681223 Rich S Sat, 16 Mar 2013 17:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219042#comment-1681223 Do the negative portion of the pull-up, the down motion, until you can lift yourself a few times (may take a few weeks). Try to lower yourself as slowly as you can. This should help you progress a bit faster than assisted pull-ups as you will have the full load of your body weight on your muscles. Fewer reps at higher resistance yield greater strength gains than more reps with less resistance (endurance). Do the negative portion of the pull-up, the down motion, until you can lift yourself a few times (may take a few weeks). Try to lower yourself as slowly as you can.
This should help you progress a bit faster than assisted pull-ups as you will have the full load of your body weight on your muscles. Fewer reps at higher resistance yield greater strength gains than more reps with less resistance (endurance).

]]> By: Jonathan Roberts http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/the-physics-of-pull-ups.html#comment-1681045 Jonathan Roberts Sat, 16 Mar 2013 07:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219042#comment-1681045 There hasn't been a bar for years. I feel much better, thanks. There hasn’t been a bar for years. I feel much better, thanks.

]]> By: bocomo http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/the-physics-of-pull-ups.html#comment-1680813 bocomo Sat, 16 Mar 2013 00:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219042#comment-1680813 i always had a problem with my body starting to swing back and forth i always had a problem with my body starting to swing back and forth

]]> By: Incipient Madness http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/the-physics-of-pull-ups.html#comment-1680778 Incipient Madness Sat, 16 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219042#comment-1680778 No wonder I have had problems with this. I am six feet tall and light of build. But my armspan is 6'4". Mostly went for distance running until I <del>took an arrow to the knee</del> broke my ankle No wonder I have had problems with this. I am six feet tall and light of build. But my armspan is 6’4″. Mostly went for distance running until I took an arrow to the knee broke my ankle

]]> By: timquinn http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/the-physics-of-pull-ups.html#comment-1680717 timquinn Fri, 15 Mar 2013 23:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219042#comment-1680717 "Ideally, you want a low mass . . ." mmm. thanks for that advice. It explains a lot. “Ideally, you want a low mass . . .”

mmm. thanks for that advice. It explains a lot.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/the-physics-of-pull-ups.html#comment-1680629 Antinous / Moderator Fri, 15 Mar 2013 21:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219042#comment-1680629 Hold your legs extended and parallel to the floor while doing your pull-ups. Or better yet, in pike position. No, I have no personal experience of this. Hold your legs extended and parallel to the floor while doing your pull-ups. Or better yet, in pike position. No, I have no personal experience of this.

]]> By: IronEdithKidd http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/the-physics-of-pull-ups.html#comment-1680249 IronEdithKidd Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219042#comment-1680249 Hey now, I liked climbing the rope.  None of the other girls could do it, and only a few of the boys. Hey now, I liked climbing the rope.  None of the other girls could do it, and only a few of the boys.

]]> By: oasisob1 http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/the-physics-of-pull-ups.html#comment-1680254 oasisob1 Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219042#comment-1680254 ...realize there is no bar. …realize there is no bar.

]]> By: oasisob1 http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/the-physics-of-pull-ups.html#comment-1680248 oasisob1 Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219042#comment-1680248 http://twentypullups.com/the-training-program/ http://twentypullups.com/the-training-program/

]]> By: oasisob1 http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/the-physics-of-pull-ups.html#comment-1680245 oasisob1 Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219042#comment-1680245 ...but only with the one arm. The other arm was good at curls (from holding the basket, ofc). …but only with the one arm. The other arm was good at curls (from holding the basket, ofc).

]]> By: IronEdithKidd http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/the-physics-of-pull-ups.html#comment-1680231 IronEdithKidd Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219042#comment-1680231 Yeah, that's exactly what I thought of when I read this in the RSS feed.  I was kinda confused for a few seconds.   Kids.  They ruin our thought patterns.   Yeah, that’s exactly what I thought of when I read this in the RSS feed.  I was kinda confused for a few seconds.  
Kids.  They ruin our thought patterns.  

]]> By: Comrade7 http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/the-physics-of-pull-ups.html#comment-1680222 Comrade7 Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219042#comment-1680222 I've heard that instead of trying to pull yourself up, you concentrate on pulling your elbows down.  In my experience, I _think_ it help a little... perhaps it helps fire the lats more or something. I’ve heard that instead of trying to pull yourself up, you concentrate on pulling your elbows down.  In my experience, I _think_ it help a little… perhaps it helps fire the lats more or something.

]]> By: semiotix http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/the-physics-of-pull-ups.html#comment-1680138 semiotix Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219042#comment-1680138 It is physically impossible for a human being to do a pull-up. EVER. Funny how it's the most obvious urban legends that we're the most likely to fall for, or even swear that we witnessed them ourselves. Next you'll be telling me people can climb ropes, or make a free throw with the whole gym class watching! It is physically impossible for a human being to do a pull-up. EVER.

Funny how it’s the most obvious urban legends that we’re the most likely to fall for, or even swear that we witnessed them ourselves. Next you’ll be telling me people can climb ropes, or make a free throw with the whole gym class watching!

]]> By: nox http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/the-physics-of-pull-ups.html#comment-1680123 nox Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219042#comment-1680123 The most important/difficult part with any exercise is having correct form. Once you have that, building up is easy and the same approaches apply to most exercises.  For informational purposes only; use at your own risk. Vary intensity, repetitions, form.  Try out different hand width and positioning  Assistance: pull-up machines, human spotting, bands Do negatives: get assistance on the up motion and fight it on the way down Work the muscles with other exercises. The pullup is a good strength predictor as it uses many different muscle groups synergistically, from your upper arms to your back and core. Slight doms is a good sign. Keep track of what worked and what didn't, and wait for doms to pass before working the same muscle again. The most important/difficult part with any exercise is having correct form.

Once you have that, building up is easy and the same approaches apply to most exercises. 

For informational purposes only; use at your own risk.

Vary intensity, repetitions, form. 
Try out different hand width and positioning 
Assistance: pull-up machines, human spotting, bands
Do negatives: get assistance on the up motion and fight it on the way down
Work the muscles with other exercises. The pullup is a good strength predictor as it uses many different muscle groups synergistically, from your upper arms to your back and core.

Slight doms is a good sign. Keep track of what worked and what didn’t, and wait for doms to pass before working the same muscle again.

]]> By: EvilSpirit http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/the-physics-of-pull-ups.html#comment-1680102 EvilSpirit Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219042#comment-1680102 It's hard to make any incremental progress when your smallest possible improvement is to double your prior performance. My first instinct would be to go to assisted pull-ups (which use an elastic band or a counterweight to support you from below) so you can do more reps. It’s hard to make any incremental progress when your smallest possible improvement is to double your prior performance. My first instinct would be to go to assisted pull-ups (which use an elastic band or a counterweight to support you from below) so you can do more reps.

]]> By: MissCellania http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/the-physics-of-pull-ups.html#comment-1680072 MissCellania Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219042#comment-1680072 I had to read through the whole thing twice to figure out why someone needed training and strength to deal with toddler diapers. Then the light bulb went on... I had to read through the whole thing twice to figure out why someone needed training and strength to deal with toddler diapers. Then the light bulb went on…

]]> By: Jorpho http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/the-physics-of-pull-ups.html#comment-1680041 Jorpho Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219042#comment-1680041 I was hoping for more details about the nature of the "dedicated training" but was disappointed. I can usually manage exactly one good pull-up, and I am at something of a loss as to how to work my way up to more than one. I was hoping for more details about the nature of the “dedicated training” but was disappointed.

I can usually manage exactly one good pull-up, and I am at something of a loss as to how to work my way up to more than one.

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/the-physics-of-pull-ups.html#comment-1680039 Brainspore Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219042#comment-1680039 <blockquote>Some people are naturally better than others at pulling off the elusive pull-up.</blockquote>Shoot, even my toddlers can pull off a pull-up. But we're almost done with potty training so we shouldn't need them much longer anyway.

Some people are naturally better than others at pulling off the elusive pull-up.

Shoot, even my toddlers can pull off a pull-up. But we’re almost done with potty training so we shouldn’t need them much longer anyway.

]]> By: GawainLavers http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/the-physics-of-pull-ups.html#comment-1680025 GawainLavers Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219042#comment-1680025 Another note about pull-ups: for a while, with the idea of maximizing my workout, I was incorporating "crunches" into my pull-ups.  At first I felt good about getting some extra ab work in with the lats, but I quickly realized that depending on the timing, the crunch became a cheat:  If you began pulling your legs up as you were lifting your body, you were basically creating upwards momentum for your center of gravity with your stomach, taking pressure off of your arms.  That said, if pull-ups are hard/impossible for you, that "cheat" might be a good way to get into them. Another note about pull-ups: for a while, with the idea of maximizing my workout, I was incorporating “crunches” into my pull-ups.  At first I felt good about getting some extra ab work in with the lats, but I quickly realized that depending on the timing, the crunch became a cheat:  If you began pulling your legs up as you were lifting your body, you were basically creating upwards momentum for your center of gravity with your stomach, taking pressure off of your arms.  That said, if pull-ups are hard/impossible for you, that “cheat” might be a good way to get into them.

]]> By: GawainLavers http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/the-physics-of-pull-ups.html#comment-1680020 GawainLavers Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219042#comment-1680020 That roughly applied to my high school friend Bill's family: short, broad shouldered, but not too heavy.  Interestingly, I was taller, much longer arms, and that somehow gave me a very large advantage on the "opposite" exercise, the bench press.  And also curls.  Bill developed much more impressive-looking muscles than I did, but I always lifted far more weight. We were about even when it came to pull-ups: but that's not where I'm going with this.  His father had grown up an Arkie picking fruit in the valley.  Well into middle age he could do <i>one-arm</i> pull-ups. That roughly applied to my high school friend Bill’s family: short, broad shouldered, but not too heavy.  Interestingly, I was taller, much longer arms, and that somehow gave me a very large advantage on the “opposite” exercise, the bench press.  And also curls.  Bill developed much more impressive-looking muscles than I did, but I always lifted far more weight.

We were about even when it came to pull-ups: but that’s not where I’m going with this.  His father had grown up an Arkie picking fruit in the valley.  Well into middle age he could do one-arm pull-ups.

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