Exercise of the Week - Straight Arm Pulldowns with a Resistance Band

I'm always looking for new ways to work the body, especially the back. A person can only do so many rows or lat pulldowns before she starts to wonder...is there anything else? The answer? Always. The Straight Arm Pulldown with a Resistance Band is one of my new favorite moves because it targets every part of the back. By balancing on the ball, you work the erector spinae and the pulldowns target the lats, the rear delts and even the triceps.

Do it right: Anchor the resistance band around a sturdy object and lie face down on an exercise ball about 3 or so feet away from the anchor (you may need to adjust your position to find the right tension). On your toes or knees, hold the handles in each hand with arms straight out in front of you. Keeping the arms straight (with a slight bend in the elbows to protect the joints), squeeze the back and pull the arms down and back until they're level with the torso. Release and repeat for 1-3 sets of 10-16 reps.

Always avoid any exercises that cause pain or aggravate any injuries.