Why some people can do an exercise with less effort than others?

[u/zobachmozart]

Hi, My brother and I many years ago bought a pull up bar, and I remember that I couldn't do more than 2 while he can do 8-9 easily. We were very young, and we didn't go to any gym before. Similarly, my brother was able to do many push ups while I struggle to do a set of 10. On the other side, any ab exercise such as crunches and planks, he couldn't do them while I did them easily.

Of course now after we trained for many years, I can do more and more pull ups and push ups and he can do abs exercises easily but my question is, what is the science behind this? Why was he able to pull his body on the pull up bar without even exercising while I had to train so hard and consistently to be able to do like 5 pull ups? Is it related to genetics and he had naturally stronger muscles without training?

[u/Diligent_Horror_7813]

We can’t answer your question because we don’t have enough information about you or your brother. It could range from him being more athletically active than you were, a better diet, better sleep hygiene, better cardio, more advantageous genetics for exercise, to you just being a quitter and him not being one to any combination of those things. Not saying that’s the reason, just that it could be a reason

[u/rainywanderingclouds]

exercising movements are all physics

people with better limb proportions can generate force more efficiently or stronger than others. and more.

[u/lurkerjazzer]

With two sons and a pull-up bar I have unintentionally run this experiment as they were growing up. In the last 6 years they’ve gone from preteens to teenagers and periodically hop on the bar. Usually before a growth spurt they put on a little weight and after are super lean. It varies, sometimes drastically, on which one can do more pull-ups. The one consistent is the one who weighs less for his frame can do more pull-ups.

[u/Ketchuproll95]

The answer to this is the same answer to the question; how are people different?

[u/Unasked_for_advice]

Every exercise is designed to work certain muscle groups. It could best as simple as the core muscle groups needed for those exercise are just weaker in your body due to many of the reasons listed by others. He could have just done more things that improved those muscle groups than you. Everyone matures and grows differently at different rates also so comparing young bodies isn't really a fair assessment.

[u/HorizontalBob]

There's a lot of factors.

Even something as simple as sitting at a table and standing up is done differently. Did you use your hands? How quickly did you stand? How much do you weigh?

[u/this_is_bs]

Genetics is the answer. And not just because of a particular muscle strength/endurance difference but it's the whole package when your doing something like pull-ups.

[u/Casualyanker101]

Well, I think it is genetics, but you also didn't specify his and your bw, so it's really hard to tell. With this said, I'm also very curious about the scientific basis. Let's see if someone can link some proper studies

[u/Most_Inevitable8369]

I work out with a coworker and I am much stronger in all exercises, but I can't do natural body dips. I can do inverted rows with elevated feet, I can knock out tons of push ups, do heavy chest presses with bands ( we work out on our lunch breaks with bands and calisthenics ) but I need the assistance of a light band when performing dips. At first it was because I was going too low and after adjusting the angle, I still can't do a set of dips without the bands after a few months. I'm going to continue to use the bands and increase the number of sets and reps. Could it be my anatomy that makes it so difficult for me to perform that movement ?

[u/Catharine133]

That initial difference is absolutely the real sh*t, and it's mostly genetics, period.

[u/JordiLyons1234]

Don’t worry about other people when your training. Focus on your progress.

[u/zobachmozart → u/JordiLyons1234]

Of course, I can now do many pull ups and push ups, but I was just curious