Resistance training is a set of various exercises that are essential to sports training, as many trainers and strength and conditioning coaches believe that this training method will increase the chances of an athlete performing well in their sport. “Resistance exercise is a specialized method of conditioning, involving the progressive use of resistance to increase a person's ability to exert or resist a force (Baechle 2000). Resistance exercise involves a movement with added load or resistance that targets a specific muscle or muscle group. In an example to improve a baseball throw, or a gymnast on a high bar, the ideal muscle to train would be the latissimus dorsi. “A number of exercises can be performed to strengthen the latissimus dorsi, such as pull-ups, pullovers, rows, bent-over rows and lat pull-ups. Most of the exercises listed have proper techniques and form to perform the exercise, with the exception of the lat pulldown. (Fahey) suggests that the side pull should be performed behind the head up to the neck, however (Baechle) suggests the opposite and insists that it should be performed in front of the head, up to the chest. There isn't really an absolute method for performing this exercise, and what's more, there isn't enough scientific evidence to suggest that either is dangerous or inappropriate. In this report, we will review and make a biomechanical comparison of each of these exercises, the effects of each, and the possible risks of injury that can result from these exercises. Goal of Lat Pull-Down As I stated in the introduction, the goal of resistance training is to improve the athlete's overall strength by involving different resistance exercises in order to target a specific sp... ... middle of paper ......the anterior aspect of the shoulder joint increases as the shoulder moves more into this lateral pull position behind the head, over time. It doesn't take a lot of force to tear tendons and ligaments. “An anterior force of 380 N, in addition to compressive force and joint laxity, has been shown to lead to a labral tear of the anterior glenoid” (Felsig 1995). Another instability of the shoulder joint can be caused “by laxity of the antero-inferior aspect of the capsulo-ligamentous structure, caused by repetitive overload”. This overload can result from a number of factors, including placing the shoulder in extreme external rotation, abduction, and horizontal abduction (Rupp 1995). Raw 1993). When reading