When we talk about exercise, there are two basic types of people: Those who established a workout regimen months or years ago, and they’ve stuck with the same old routine ever since, and those who consistently mix it up and try new things.
Depending upon your personality, you might be the first type, or the second. Those who are comforted by routine, or just want to get their workout over and done, often fall into the first category. Those who enjoy trying new things, or get bored easily, or participate in many active hobbies, fall into the second.
Neither type is right or wrong; the important thing is that you’re doing what works best for you. But both types can fall prey to the same weakness: Many of you did not consider upper back strength when designing your workout regimens, and this weakness can leave you prone to injury and other problems.
Do you need to add some upper back strengthening exercises to your routine? Probably so, if any of these five signs sound familiar:

1. You exhibit poor posture (slouching)
2. You can’t perform even a single pull-up
3. You can’t fully extend your arms overhead, without bending your elbows
4. You find yourself shrugging your shoulders while performing bench presses, lat pulldowns, or seated rows
5. You experience pain in your shoulders or upper arms (probably from all that bad form mentioned above!)

If any of those signs sound familiar, you need to target your “lats” (latissimus dorsi) more. These are the muscles that support your shoulders and span most of your back, and they’re incredibly important to proper posture as well as the correct form needed for many types of exercise. By strengthening your lats, you can make the rest of your workout routine safer and more effective.
Talk to your personal trainer about moves that target your lats, or take a look at the weight machines at your gym. Most of the time, they will display information on the muscle groups targeted by that particular exercise.
And, of course, remember to come see us if you have questions about your weight loss plan, or exercise safety. Never begin a new exercise routine without checking in with a physician, who can screen you for underlying medical conditions that can make exercise dangerous for you.