9 Best Band Pull Apart Alternative Exercises (With Pictures)

1. Reverse Cable Crossovers 

Reverse cable crossovers are an effective way to work the rear shoulders and upper back muscles. The cables extend much further than resistance bands to give you a greater range of motion.

This helps activate smaller muscle groups and improve your overall flexibility and strength. 

By using a cable machine rather than a resistance band you can set the weight resistance precisely and lift more to build greater muscle mass.

Benefits:

• Strengthens shoulder muscles that will improve posture.
• Helps create a more stable shoulder joint.
• Improves shoulder function.

How To Do a Reverse Cable Crossover:

1. Set the pulleys and handles to about shoulder height and set the weight. 
2. Face the machine and reach across your body to grab the handle on the opposite side.
3. Position yourself in the middle of the cable machine and take a step backward.
4. Slowly pull the cables so they crossover in front of you and keep going until your arms form a horizontal line. Hold for a few seconds, and then return back to starting position. 
5. Make sure to use a low weight when you're getting used to the movement and aim for sets of 8-12 reps. Then, as your flexibility improves, you can add more weight.  

Related Article - Best Cable Crossover Machines

2. Reverse Pec Deck Fly 

Pec decks are mostly used to help you grow your pectorals, but they’re really effective at strengthening your upper back and shoulder muscles if you use them in reverse.

Using the pec deck in this way completely isolates your rear deltoids so you see greater gains.

You can also customize the weight levels so you can continually challenge your body as you develop.

There’s very little chance of injury with this exercise because the machine helps to control the movement making it a great alternative to the band pull apart exercise. 

However, if you don't have access to a pec deck machine, you can try out pec deck alternatives that target the similar muscle groups.

Benefits:

• Helps develop bigger and more balances shoulders.
• The reverse pec deck machine provides more stability than free weight which can limit injury risk.
• Great exercise to improve posture for those who work at a desk.

How To Do A Reverse Pec Deck Fly:

1. To perform a reverse pec deck fly, sit facing the machine and adjust the handles so that they are level with your shoulders. 
2. Set the weight, and then push the handles in towards each other.
3. Pause for a second, and then slowly bring them back out again.
4. Try to keep both sides moving at the same pace to avoid putting strain on one side of your body.

Related Article - 10 Best Landmine Press Alternatives

3. Rear Delt Rows 

Rear delt rows engage all your upper and lower back muscles, as well as your shoulders, to dramatically improve your strength.

You can perform this exercise with dumbbells, barbells or kettlebells, so it’s a good option no matter what equipment you have at home.

This alternative to band pull aparts should help you gain more muscle, and you can use heavy weights to maximize your gains.

It is more challenging because it engages your whole back so be careful not to overload with too much weight, or it might impact your form.  

Benefits:

• Great for addressing strength imbalances in the shoulder.
• Improves aesthetics of the shoulders.
• Improves overall stability and balance of the shoulders.

How To Do A Rear Delt Row:

1. Start by standing up straight, holding the weights with an overhand grip, and with hands just over shoulder-width apart. 
2. Slightly bend your knees and lean your body forward until you're at 45 degrees with the floor.
3. Engage your back and lift the weight up towards your chest, moving your elbows out to your sides.
4. Hold for a second, and then lower back down to starting position to complete the movement.

4. Rear Delt Fly 

The rear delt fly is a great way to train your shoulders and is often used in conjunction with rows to build a broad back. It isolates your upper body and essentially takes your legs out of the equation. 

The rear deltiod dumbbell fly maximizes the benefit to your back and shoulders, and is a good alternative for those with limited mobility.

It can also be performed with kettlebells, machines, or resistance bands, so it’s suitable for all fitness levels.

Benefits:

• Develops strong and stable shoulders.
• Improves symmetry of the shoulders.
• Improves posture by increasing strength in the upper back muscles. 

How To Do A Rear Delt Fly:

1. Start by standing tall with a weight in each hand and your feet shoulder width apart. 
2. Bend forward at the hip until your upper body is almost parallel with the floor.
3. Let your arms drop down until the weight is close to the floor, and then pull them up until they are at shoulder height.
4. Pause for a second, and then lower them back down to starting position.
5. Keep a slight bend in your arms throughout the exercise and keep the movement controlled.

Read More - Best Dumbbell Rear Delt Exercises

5. Face Pulls 

This alternative exercise engages your rear deltoids just like a resistance band pull aparts but also helps strengthen your whole upper back.

Face pulls have also been shown to increase scapular stability which helps to limit your risk of a shoulder injury and improves your flexibility for other exercises. 

If you don’t have a cable machine in your home gym, you’ll need to find face pull alternatives, but you can also use resistance bands if you don't have access to a cable machine.

Benefits:

• Creates strong shoulders for every day life and to improve performance in the gym.
• Helps improve rounded shoulders from working at a desk and sitting with poor posture.
• Increases strength in the upper back muscles. 

How To Do A Face Pull:

1. Start with the cable machine handles, or resistance bands, at shoulder height in front of you, one on each side.
2. Grab the handles or bands with your palms facing towards each other and take a step backward, so your arms are outstretched.
3. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and your arms out straight in front of you.
4. Pull both arms backwards towards your ears in a smooth motion, keeping the cable or band straight.
5. As the cables or bands are just next to your face, pause for a second and squeeze your shoulder blades, and then slowly move them back to starting position.  

6. T Raises 

T raises are a helpful substitute because they can be performed with no equipment and a great pull aparts alternative if you want to improve your range.

They're designed to improve your flexibility and stability rather than stimulate muscle growth, so they're perfect for beginners but may be too easy for advanced lifters.

This exercise will help you improve your overall shoulder strength, though, and are often useful as part of a warmup. 

Benefits:

• Improves mobility in the shoulder joint.
• Helps reduce risk of injury.
• Good choice for building stability if you are dealing with a shoulder and rotator cuff injuries.

How To Do A T Raise:

1. Start by lying on your stomach, preferably on top of a yoga mat, with your arms stretched out at a 90-degree angle. 
2. Keep your neck in line with your upper body, and slowly raise your hands upwards as far as possible. 
3. Pause at the top, and then slowly lower them back down to starting position.

7. W Raises 

W raises mimic the movement of resistance band pull aparts very closely and give you a lot of the same benefits.

You only need a bench and some kind of handheld weight for this exercise, and it can be performed with 1 or 2 hands. 

This makes it a practical alternative if you're carrying an injury on one side but still want to be able to train your deltoids.  

Benefits:

• Good rehab exercises for rotator cuff injuries that can be done without weight and added as strength increases.
• Increases range of motion and strength in the shoulders.
• Can easily be done at home without equipment.

How To Do A W Raise:

1. Set your bench at a 45-degree angle and lie forward on the bench with a dumbbell in each hand. 
2. Raise the weights at the side of your body until they’re at shoulder height. This should form a W across your back (which is where the name comes from).
3. Slowly raise your elbows upwards to lift the weight above you until your arms are almost fully outstretched.
4.  Pause for a second, and then lower them back down to the W position to complete the rep.  

Related Article - Best Adjustable Weight Benches

8. Overhead Press 

The overhead press has been used for a long time to help strengthen your shoulders and upper back.

This alternative allows you to lift more weight and gain lean muscle quickly, but you can still use lighter loads if you want to improve your flexibility. 

It can be performed with any handheld weight, so it's a useful exercise for home gym owners with limited equipment.

However, not everyone can easily perform this movement since it's a demanding lift. Whether you experience discomfort in your shoulders during this exercise or are looking to add variety to your workout routine, you can try out overhead press alternatives that can meet your needs.

Benefits:

• One of the most effective exercises for building overall shoulder strength.
• Can go heavier with this exercise. 
• Great exercise to increase both strength and size of shoulders.

How To Do A Overhead Press:

1. Start by standing tall with the dumbbell or barbell in your hands using an overhand grip. 
2. Bend your arms and raise the weight up to shoulder height.
3. Engage your back and shoulders and push the weight directly upwards.
4. Pause for a second at the top, and then slowly lower it back down to shoulder height.
5. Repeat the movement and aim for 8-12 reps at a time.

Related Article - Overhead Press Vs Bench Press

9. Superman 

The superman exercise is more of a stretch, but it's a perfect alternative exercise for beginners. There's also no equipment needed, so it can be performed by anyone, anywhere.

It's a good band pull aparts alternative as the movement will help develop your core and improve the flexibility in your shoulders and deltoids.

Benefits:

• Increases mobility in the shoulders.
• Improves range in the upper back.
• Helps reduce shoulder and low back pain.

How To Do A Superman:

1. Start by lying down on your front with both arms stretched out in front of you (like superman flying). 
2. Push your hips down and lift your arms and legs upwards.
3. Squeeze your back muscles and shoulder blades, and then slowly lower your back down to starting position. 
4. Try to hold the superman pose for 30-60 seconds and increase as you get more comfortable with the movement.