Strap Pulls

The strap pulls are another Pilates inspired exercise. In Pilates, the strap pull is performed on the reformer in the prone position (lying on your stomach) on a box called the sitting box. At ActiveLab, we have created a similar exercise done standing. The standing position is a more convenient and comfortable position.

The strap pulls is a postural exercise which focuses on strengthening the lower trapezius. It is widely believed that the lower trapezius is important in maintaining good posture and shoulder stability.

The lower trapezius is not a big muscle. In most exercises for the back, neural signals to the lower trapezius are overwhelmed by signals to the bigger muscles around it. This means that to activate the lower trapezius, you need specific exercises that will activate the lower trapezius while not activating the larger muscles in the area. This is called selective activation.

In physical therapy, selective activation of the lower trapezius (LT) has been the subject of some research. A 2011 paper using electromyography to record muscle activity found that the most effective exercise for selective activation of the LT is the modified prone cobra. The modified prone cobra is performed lying face down on a table or on the floor. We really believe that most people will prefer a standing approach.