What Are the Benefits of Back Exercises?

Your back muscles don't just look pretty when you're baring it all in a pool or wearing a tank top — they're essential to just about every movement you do. The benefits of a strong back go far beyond aesthetics.

Back exercises may improve your posture, enhance your physique and help protect from back pain and injury.

Your back consists of several muscles, all of which support the spine, posture and activity important to daily life and sport. The major ones include the following:

• Latissimus dorsi, the large muscles that originate below the armpits and run down the back of the ribcage and are responsible for shoulder movement.
• Rhomboids, muscles located in the midupper back that are responsible for retraction of your scapula, or shoulder blades.
• Trapezius, which runs from the neck to the middle of your back and is responsible for the movement of your shoulder blades.
• Erector spinae, muscles that run along your spine and control extension and lateral movement.

Working out your back stretches and strengthens the muscles that support its structure. The back muscles bolster the vertebrae disks, ligaments and facet joints. If they are weak, your spine is unsupported and may become vulnerable to pain and dysfunction.

Back training may help prevent strains and sprains that can occur during sports and daily chores — such as when moving furniture or boxes — or accidents.

If you have a job or lifestyle that involves a lot of sitting, like being behind a computer for a long time, your back muscles need extra attention.
A sedentary lifestyle may lead to fat accumulation and atrophy of the back muscles. With strength exercises, such as rows, pull-ups and lat pull-downs, you can increase the function of the muscles in your back.
 

Sources: Live Strong