The Exercise Physiologists at Peak Performance know all the muscles in the body, but which ones are our favorite?! Every week we will feature a different muscle- so you guys get an anatomy lesson and learn how to work that muscle!
Anthony, what’s your favorite muscle?
My favorite is the latissimus dorsi which translates to “the broadest muscle of the back.” This is personally my favorite muscle because I was a wrestler all of my life, and strong back muscles are crucial for optimal performance of the sport.
Where is this muscle located?
The latissimus dorsi originates at the 7th-12th thoracic vertebrae of the spine (middle of the spine), as well as the lip of the illac crest (top of hip bone). This muscle inserts or grabs onto the groove of the humerus (shoulder bone).
What does this muscle do?
The latissimus dorsi is responsible for extension, adduction (moving together), horizontal abduction (moving away), and internal rotation of the shoulder joint. We use our latissimus dorsi muscles during everyday living activities more than we realize, such as picking something up off of the ground, grabbing something out of a cabinet, opening doors, and even pulling someone in for a hug.
What is a good exercise to strength this muscle?
A good exercise for this muscle is any movement that is considered a “Row”, such as a seated row using the row machine, a TRX suspended Row, or an upright High Row.
