All About Your Back Muscles

back muscle anatomy

There are several distinct muscles in your back. Some muscles support your spine and trunk. Others help you breathe, stand up straight, and move your body.

Back injuries are frequent because your back muscle bears great weight and is in charge of several movements. You should warm up before physical exercise and keep other muscles in your body strong to prevent injury and maintain the stamina of your back muscles. In this article, you will learn everything about your back muscles.

Types oF Back Muscles

There are different types of back muscles present in your back:

  • Latissimus dorsi (lats)

Your body’s largest muscle is the upper part. It begins in the area of your back below your shoulder blades and runs down to your spine.

  • Levator scapulae

A smaller muscle starts from the side of your neck to the scapula (shoulder blade).

  • Rhomboids

Two muscles connect the scapula to the spine.

  • Trapezius (traps)

It will begin at the start of your neck, cross your shoulders, and extend to a “V” in the lower part of your back.

  • Intermediate

The serratus posterior inferior and superior are two of the intermediate muscles. They rest in the section between your shoulder blades, known as the shoulder girdle.

  • Intrinsic

The intrinsic muscles of the back are divided into two categories. These muscles deeply encase your skin. The transversospinalis group and the erector spinae group are two intrinsic muscles. These muscles move up and down along either side of your spinal column. Each group contains several muscles, including the multifidus muscles in the lower back.

How To Build Back Muscle

Focus on working out the main muscle groups in your back to develop back muscle. You may conduct several beneficial workouts with free weights at home or lifting machines at your local gym. Here is how to build back muscle to strengthen your upper back, mid-back, and lower back regions.

 

  • Try a barbell bent over a row to bulk up your lower back. 


Keep your feet shoulder-width apart as you can stand in front of a barbell and bend your back parallel to the ground. Use a shoulder-width grip to hold onto the bar. The distance between your hands should be 2-3 feet (0.61-0.91 m). Then, engage your back muscles and raise the bar to your lower chest in a smooth action. Hold the bar for two to three seconds before gradually lowering it again. To control the bar’s descent, flex your back muscles.

 

  • Do Lat pulldowns to strengthen your upper back and shoulders.

 

This exercise is excellent for developing your middle trapezius, rhomboids, and traps. Lift your hands and take hold of the pulldown bar. To get the most out of the pulldown workout, ensure that your back is straight and that your chest is outwardly protruding.

The bar must be brought in front of your head. You risk hurting your shoulders if you attempt to bring it down behind your head.

 

  • Build upper-back muscle with full-range motion lat pulldowns.

Place yourself between two pulley machines, and put the pulleys on either side to the highest position. With your left hand, grasp the right pulley; with your right, grasp the left pulley. After that, lower the handles until they are crossed in front of your sternum in front of your chest. Then, slowly and carefully raise the handles to the above position to release the weight. Return your arms to your chest gradually. Slowly lower your arms to your chest so as not to cause your shoulders to shrug.

What Are Back Workouts

The back is not only one of the largest and strongest areas of the body, but it is also the most complex due to its network of interrelated muscle groups. For this feature, here we are listing different types of back workouts:

Type 1: Upper Back Workouts

  • Pullup 

  • Front Lat Pulldown

  • Back Lat Pulldown

  • Cable Lat Pull Down

  • Cable Machine Lat Pulldown

Pullup (wide grip)

  • Take a strong overhand grip on the bar. To stretch your arms in the bottom position, fully extend your arms while letting your shoulders drop.

  • Imagine keeping your elbows at your sides as you pull yourself up, bringing them down as you do so while contracting your lats.

  • Pull yourself up as high as you can to properly engage your lats.

  • If you’re having trouble, think about getting a spotter or using an assisted pullup machine.

Type 2: Lower Back Workouts

  • Dead Lift

  • Hyper Extension

  • Good Morning Workout

  • Back Extension

Back Extension

  • Once seated on the bench, cross your arms over your chest or behind your head (this is more challenging); you can also hold a weight plate near your chest to increase the difficulty.

  • As you slowly turn your back, bend your waist as far as possible.

  • To raise your torso to the starting posture, engage your lower back muscles. Contrary to what some people call this technique, hyperextending your spine is not a good idea, so avoid using a ballistic action and staying too high.

Type 3: Middle Back Workouts

  • Dumbbell Rowing

  • Bend Over Rowing 

  • T Bar 

  • Seated Rowing

Close-Grip Seated Cable Row

  • Maintain a slight knee bend to relieve pressure and improve your balance.

  • Although you might believe that leaning forward increases your range of motion, keeping your torso upright puts more pressure on your middle back while also putting less strain on your lower back.

  • Always maintain a small arch in your low back.

  • As much as you can, bring your shoulders and elbows back until the bar reaches your core.

So, these are the best back workouts you can follow to strengthen your muscles.

Benefits OF Back Workouts

There are so many benefits of back workouts, and if you choose not to do them, you are depriving yourself of those advantages. Back exercise combined with chiropractic therapy is the holy grail of treating and preventing back pain. 

  • Your Back Powers Many Other Muscles.

  • Full Body Workout.

  • Improved Posture.

  • Fight Off Back Pain.

  • Improved Back Health For The Elderly.

  • Breathe Easy.

  • Back Exercise Will Improve Your Overall Well-Being.

Final Words

The primary structural support for your trunk comes from your back muscles. These muscles enable you to move your head, neck, shoulders, arms, legs, and the rest of your body. So, from the above post, you know everything about your back muscles and various workouts.