Can pullovers actually make you broader?

[2GAINS]

I know arnold said they could but has this ever been tested? What are your experiences? Btw I am not talking about chest growth and serratus growth. I mean bone and cartilage expansion. Is this bro science?

 

[Mprtz]

It's got to be... I just don't see how a movement can alter clavicle width in a fully grown man.

Also, lots of guys do pullovers, and few end up looking like Arnold.

 

[Mrrippedzilla]

Old school lifters used to do pullovers to expand their ribcage - there's no evidence either way on this but IMO it probably doesn't unless your in your early 20's...and even then its only a maybe.

Bbell/dumbbell pullovers happen to suck for chest & lat development, which is why smart bodybuilders gave up on the move (unless they had access to a pullover machine). Ribcage expansion isn't as important as chest/back growth.

So yes, its broscience

 

[carverelli]

Old school lifters used to do pullovers to expand their ribcage - there's no evidence either way on this but IMO it probably doesn't unless your in your early 20's...and even then its only a maybe.

Bbell/dumbbell pullovers happen to suck for chest & lat development, which is why smart bodybuilders gave up on the move (unless they had access to a pullover machine). Ribcage expansion isn't as important as chest/back growth.zx

So yes, its broscience

I must be one of the dumb ones that still do pullovers for back width. The thought that it can espans the rib cage seems ridiculous to me. However, personally I feel like it makes my back wider right at my armpits. I do them at the end of my back workouts

 

[halfwit]

I must be one of the dumb ones that still do pullovers for back width. The thought that it can espans the rib cage seems ridiculous to me. However, personally I feel like it makes my back wider right at my armpits. I do them at the end of my back workouts

I do them too as they tend to stimulate parts of my lats other exercises tend to miss. At least I can certainly feel the contraction and visibly see (a bud took a short video to show me) them move in a different fashion than say a row or pull-down. Armpit area is where I get the contraction as well.

Expansion of the ribcage is old school, and I remember being taught in the early 90's to hold one's breath, and forcibly exert pressure from the inside to force growth. Don't honestly know if it had any impact as I was a teenager, but I doubt it's possible (as Ripped mentioned) due to calcification of cartilage in adulthood.

 

[Mrrippedzilla]

If you have access to a pullover machine (very rare) then yes, the pullover is an awesome move.

If you dont, then the poor resistance curve due to no tension at the top of the move makes it a really poor choice for back development. Its not enough to only work the muscle at the bottom of the move.

You may be able to get around this by using a decline but I don't bother because there are so many other horizontal/vertical pulling alternatives available.

 

[Southernfish]

I highly doubt as already stated that in a fully grown human they expand the rib cage. They do however 100% stimulate the pecs and/or lats, the machine being superior but free weight movement still be effective.

 

[carverelli]

My old gym had a pullover machine; I tried it out but oddly enough I liked the dumbell version on a flat bench better. I could be the exception however