Nowadays it’s not uncommon to hear that using weight machines in the gym isn’t functional and can cause muscle imbalances. While I agree that most machines do little to help you train in proper movement and strengthen the small stabilizing muscles, there are some that still have their place in a well-rounded training program. One such machine is the cable or “lat” pulldown.
Since it is technically a machine, I feel it just doesn’t get the love it deserves. Pull-ups and chin-ups still reign supreme for strength but are very difficult to do well and might not be in the cards for most people. When performed properly, lat pulldowns can be extremely beneficial to build upper body strength, mass, and keep your shoulders healthy.
Vertical pulling exercises such as the lat pulldown primarily target the latissimus dorsi or ‘lats’ muscles but also hit the lower and middle trapezius, the rhomboids, and the serratus anterior. The largest of these muscles, the lats, originate at your thoracic and lumbar spine spanning most of your back and insert all the way on your humerus.
Besides allowing the motion for pull-ups, the lat muscles also act as very powerful spinal stabilizers for posture during exercises such as squats and deadlifts, as well as other athletic movement. Needless to say, having a strong back is key to overall strength and fitness.