Training Tips: The Pectoralis Major

The pectoralis major is without question one of the most frequently trained muscles in fitness and sport. Despite it's popularity, few people know much about the anatomy and kinesiology of this important muscle. Knowing this information will make your training more effective for you and your clients while minimizing the risk of developing muscle imbalances in the shoulder area. Let's take a closer look at what you need to know to train this muscle safely and effectively.

Anatomy

The general shape of the pectoralis major is that of a "fan", meaning it has a wide origin on the clavicle, ribs 2 through 6 and sternum and tapers into a narrow insertion on the humerus. In addition, the pectoralis major is a cruciate muscle. This means that the fibers originating from the upper half of the muscle cross over those originating from the lower half on their way to the humerus, forming an anatomical "twist" in the muscle. Due to these characteristics, the muscle fiber angles fluctuate by as much as seventy degrees from the most superior to the most inferior portions of the muscle[3].

Kinesiology

The result of this unique shape and varying fiber angles of the pectoralis major is the superior and inferior portions of the muscle have somewhat different actions on the arm. Hence, certain exercises involve the upper "head" of this muscle more than the lower and vice versa [1,2]. This has significance in your training because you can select exercises that will train the portion of the pectoralis major, specific to your goals. This can be more effective than a general training approach of exercising the whole muscle as one unit.

Although the pectoralis major has some influence on the movement of the shoulder girdle, its main action is on the arm. We now know that the upper and lower portions of the muscle have somewhat different actions on the arm, although they share some functions. Below is a list of the specific actions of the two heads of the pectoralis major[1].

Exercise and Development

The pectoralis major has a tremendous capacity for development in both strength and size. The reason for this lies in the fact that humans have evolved to walk on two legs. When we were quadripeds (if you believe in evolution), the pectoralis major played a significant role in our everyday lives of walking with our arms and legs. Nowadays, the muscle gets much less opportunity to contribute to our daily activities, and thus lies in a state of atrophy in your average person. For this reason, detrained people who begin a strength training program incorporating the pectoralis major have a lot of genetic room to work with and typically show great improvement in this muscle in a short time period.

A general approach to training the entire pectoralis major is the best choice for beginners, general fitness enthusiasts, and athletes looking for general improvements in strength of the arms. If this is you, the flat bench press is a great way to go. The only limitation to this exercise is that it does not allow a full range of motion in the upper portion of the movement. To get a better range of motion, try a dumbell press. You will see that your hands get closer together at the end of the movement, indicating a more complete range of motion. A dumbell or cable fly (lateral) on a flat bench is a great way to isolate the pectoralis major from the tricep and provides an even more complete range of motion. All of these exercises are pure horizontal adduction of the arm.

If you are interested in developing the upper portion of the pectoralis major for aesthetic reasons, or want improved strength in arm flexion (raising the arm in front of the body), doing the above exercises on an incline bench will introduce some flexion of the arm into the movement. A front barbell or dumbell raise is pure arm flexion and also a great way to train the upper head of the pectoralis major. A less common and more creative way to train this portion of the muscle is to do a cable cross-over using the bottom instead of the top cables of the apparatus. This exercise is a very good combination of arm flexion and horizontal adduction and very effective in exercising the upper head of the pectoralis major.

If you are interested in developing the lower portion of the pectoralis major for aesthetic reasons or a need for improved strength in arm extension (lowering the arm from in front of the body) or adduction (pulling the arm towards the body from an out-to-the-side position) performing the general pectoralis major exercises discussed above on a decline bench is a effective way to train. Using the decline bench incorporates arm adduction into the movement, increasing the stress on the lower head of the pectoralis major. Ironically, a lat pull-down is as much a lower pectoralis major exercise as it is a latissimus dorsi exercise due to the adduction involved. The barbell pull-over is a good arm extension exercise and also effective for the lower pectoralis major.

Special Considerations

It is important when training any muscle to be sure to train that muscle's antagonist(s). Failing to do this will likely result in muscular imbalance, which will alter the mechanics of the joint involved. Muscle imbalances resulting form a strong pectoralis major and weak rear deltoid/rhomboids are very common. To avoid this condition in the shoulder area, incorporate just as much time training with reverse flies, seated rows, T-bar rows and other mid back/ rear deltoid exercises as you do training the pectoralis major to maintain agonist/ antagonist balance.

How do you tell if you or your client already has a muscle imbalance in the shoulder? Stand to the side of your client (or have someone stand to the side of you) and look at the alignment of the center of the shoulder with the ears. Proper alignment will be identified when the center of the shoulder is inline on the vertical axis with the ear. If the center of the shoulder is forward of direct alignment with the ear (slumped shoulder), you are likely looking at the muscle imbalance discussed here. What if you are too late? To correct an existing muscle imbalance of this type, you need to stretch, not strengthen the pectoralis major and spend a lot of time doing mid back/rear deltoid exercises.

As you can see, there is a lot to know to safely and effectively train the pectoralis major. To be an effective trainer, you need to be able to match you and your client's goals with the best and most specific training program while avoiding the possible effects of negligence. The more you know, the faster and more frequently you will obtain the proper results. Look for similar articles on training other muscle groups in the future!

If you're interested in helping clients prevent or correct muscle-related pain or movement, explore the ISSA's course on Corrective Exercise. Additional specializations are a great way to help more clients and boost your personal training business.

References

1. Francis, P., Applied anatomy and kinesiology, supplemental materials. KB Books., p 19,1999.

2. Rasch, P.J., Kinesiology and applied anatomy. 7th ed. Lea and Febiger, p 123, 1989.

3. Timmons, M.J., Martini, F.H., Human anatomy, 2nd ed. Prentice Hall, p 282, 1997.