Why You Need to Build a Strong Upper Back

If we were to ask a thousand random listeners which parts of their body are their favorite and least favorite for strength training, what do you think the answers would be? My guess is that most people would choose the chest as their favorite and legs as their least favorite. 

Legs are definitely my least favorite for strength training and the word “loathe” doesn’t even fully capture how I feel about leg days at the gym. Heavy squats and lunges are no fun and just knowing that I have a leg day coming up brings on a bit of anxiety for me. 

Of course, skipping leg days is not an option because the leg muscles are the largest in the body, and working them has a slew of benefits such as boosting your levels of testosterone and human growth hormone which can help all of your muscles develop. So the best I can do is grit my teeth through leg days and take it like medicine. 

In contrast, chest workouts seem to be a favorite for most people and it makes sense. Chest exercises are relatively simple and you can really feel the “pump” of the muscles as they become engorged with blood after each set. 

Here’s a little secret about me—I like chest days because there's something cathartic about pushing a bunch of weight off my chest. If you don’t know what I mean, try thinking of something a little upsetting, like your toddler dropping your brand new smartphone in the toilet, while performing chest exercises and you might notice that frustration goes away more quickly.  

Based on my experience as a fitness professional, I know that upper back muscles don’t stand out as a favorite for most people at the gym. But they’re a key muscle group that deserves your attention. Keep listening to find out how to build a strong upper back and why it’s important, and stay tuned for a future episode when I talk about the lower back muscles.

Why building a strong upper back is important 

In our society, exercises for muscles on the front of our torso, such as our chest and abs, tend to be over-emphasized, while muscles on the back of our torso, such as our upper and lower back, are not emphasized enough....

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