Chin-up

The chin-up (also known as a chin/chinup) is a strength training exercise. People frequently do this exercise with the intention of strengthening muscles such as the latissimus dorsi and biceps, which extend the shoulder and flex the elbow, respectively.

It is a form of pull-up in which the range of motion is established in relation to a person's chin.

Both pull-ups and chin-ups are two of the best exercises for back and overall upper body conditioning. However, they target the muscles a bit differently. Both exercises will work the lats (latissimus dorsi) and biceps.

In the 1970s and 1980s, the term chin-up not only included an overhand/pronated ("palms away") grip, but used it as the default meaning of the term, with an underhand/supinated ("palms toward") grip called a "reverse" grip. Even in the 2010s "chin-up" still includes palms-away lifting. The term "chin-up" is still regularly used refer to pulling using an overhand-grip.

Etymology

A chin-up is named by bringing the chin up through space, specifically in relation to its position with the bar or other hand grips. This can be either touching the bar (more easily done by extending the neck, though that could be considered cheating) or by bringing the chin over the bar. This exercise is easier for males than females because of the male tendency to have a stronger and larger bicep.