In the meantime, you can work toward your first pull-up, as well as reap similar health and fitness benefits, by performing the movement patterns and training the muscles used in pull-up, he says.

A pull-up really is a full-body movement and that’s why it is so hard to do. Above, we’ve just flagged the main muscles activated during the movement, but you’ll find that a lot of other ...

Chin-ups: People who wish to strengthen their shoulder girdle muscles overall but with an emphasis on bicep growth, should focus on incorporating more supinated grip pull-ups (chin-ups).

Pull-ups are one of the most coveted bodyweight exercises for strengthening your upper body, namely your back, biceps and posterior deltoids (the rear shoulder muscles). For many, it’s a long ...

A participant performs a pull-up while racing through the Army Reserve Fitness Challenge during day one of the 2015 Tough Mudder at Palm Bay, Florida, Nov. 8, 2015.

Being someone who loves to climb, pull-ups train muscles that directly correlate to one of my passions. So when I think I can’t do one more rep, I picture myself on the edge of a cliff, giving ...

I set out to do all seven days, but the muscle fatigue meant that I lowered my goal to around 20 or 30 chin-ups instead. It's a shame, but I did what I could without overtraining or injuring myself.

A wide variety of grips can make your pull-up workouts more enjoyable and diversify the strain on wrists, elbows, shoulders, joints and muscles.

Here's why you should add this full-body move to your next workout. Plus, alternatives to try if you're not quite there yet.