If you systematically use lifting straps for your back exercises, you risk a loss of strength and volume in your forearms and must therefore include specific direct training for these muscles.

noli's read

The principle of specificity in resistance training supports this approach: muscles placed under load grow, while those that are not used can stagnate or even regress (disuse atrophy). Lifting straps effectively allow for the isolation of the latissimus dorsi by removing the limitation of grip strength, as confirmed by various studies on load transfer (observational/biomechanical type). If grip strength is neglected, the flexor and extensor muscles of the wrist lose their primary adaptive stimulus. Jeff Nippard highlights a pragmatic balance here: using the tool to optimize back training while compensating for the loss of secondary work through isolated exercises. This approach is consistent with current recommendations in hypertrophy, where isolation work for small muscle groups is considered a valid strategy for addressing functional deficits. This is not an absolute necessity for everyone, but a logical recommendation for those who use technical aids systematically.

the sources

1. 1Leong DP, Teo KK, Rangarajan S, et al. (PURE) 2015
2. 2Celis-Morales CA, Welsh P, Lyall DM, et al. 2018