Sagittal lumbar spinal curvature in lat pulldown exercise

Abstract

Objectives. To describe the sagittal spinal curvature of the lumbar spine in muscular conditioning rooms during lat pulldown exercise and compare it with the angular position in usual standing position.

Method. Lumbar curvature of 66 male recreational weightlifters (mean age: 24.7 ± 4.9 years) was measured with a unilevel inclinometer (ISOMED Inc., Portland, OR) during relaxed standing and during the lat pulldown exercise. Lumbar lordosis was measured at the end of the concentric phase in the sixth repetition and at the end of the eccentric phase in the eighth repetition.

Results. Mean lumbar lordosis values during exercise were 23.35° ± 16.22° at the end of the concentric phase and 20.79° ± 14.82° at the end of the eccentric phase (p < 0.016). Lumbar lordosis in standing was 31.62° ± 7.41° (p < 0.016) with respect to eccentric and concentric phases).

Conclusions. The lat pulldown exercise showed a lower lumbar lordosis than standing, and therefore there was a greater frequency of lumbar kyphotic and hypolordotic postures. However, we found a low frequency of hyperlordotic posture.