Are Pull Ups Good for Shoulders and Hand Grip Strength?

Yes and No. Read on to learn what's up.

By Eric Wong, BSc - Kinesiologist and Movement Specialist

It’s commonly thought that Pull ups are good for shoulders and hand grip strength, but it’s not always the case.

Just like with everything, how you do it is as important as what you do.

If you do something and don’t put any effort into it or don’t do it correctly, regardless of how much potential the activity has, you won’t realize it.

That’s why it’s important to put your effort into the right things and do them correctly.

So Pull ups can be great for your shoulders and developing hand grip strength, when you do them with those intentions in mind.

If your goal is to complete as many Pull ups as you can because you’re doing a CrossFit WOD, then Kipping Pullups might be the answer.

But this is different than doing Pull ups for shoulder health or hand grip strength.

In today’s video we’ll explore these concepts and more.

Pull Ups for Shoulders and Hand Grip Strength

About the Author

Eric Wong, BSc, is the founder of Precision Movement and a movement specialist with over 20 years of experience. He holds a degree in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo. Eric began his career training professional combat athletes, including UFC fighters and champion boxers, and now focuses on helping active individuals eliminate pain, restore function, and improve mobility through evidence-based programs. He lives in Toronto with his wife and kids and fuels his work with black coffee - and his weekends with craft IPAs. Click here to learn more about Eric.

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