Exercise Comparison
Band Assisted Pull-Up vs Elevated Cable Rows




Side-by-Side
Muscle Analysis
Shared
Only in Band Assisted Pull-Up
Only in Elevated Cable Rows
Instructions
Band Assisted Pull-Up
Choke the band around the center of the pullup bar. You can use different bands to provide varying levels of assistance.
Pull the end of the band down, and place one bent knee into the loop, ensuring it won't slip out. Take a medium to wide grip on the bar. This will be your starting position.
Pull yourself upward by contracting the lats as you flex the elbow. The elbow should be driven to your side. Pull to the front, attempting to get your chin over the bar. Avoid swinging or jerking movements.
After a brief pause, return to the starting position.
Elevated Cable Rows
Get a platform of some sort (it can be an aerobics or calf raise platform) that is around 4-6 inches in height.
Place it on the seat of the cable row machine.
Sit down on the machine and place your feet on the front platform or crossbar provided making sure that your knees are slightly bent and not locked.
Lean over as you keep the natural alignment of your back and grab the V-bar handles.
With your arms extended pull back until your torso is at a 90-degree angle from your legs. Your back should be slightly arched and your chest should be sticking out. You should be feeling a nice stretch on your lats as you hold the bar in front of you. This is the starting position of the exercise.
Keeping the torso stationary, pull the handles back towards your torso while keeping the arms close to it until you touch the abdominals. Breathe out as you perform that movement. At that point you should be squeezing your back muscles hard. Hold that contraction for a second and slowly go back to the original position while breathing in.
Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Verdict
Both exercises target the lats. Band Assisted Pull-Up is a beginner exercise using other, while Elevated Cable Rows is intermediate and uses cable. Choose Band Assisted Pull-Up if you're looking for a more accessible option, or Elevated Cable Rows for a greater challenge.