The low-row exercise over-activates the pec minor and causes scapular dysfunction. Try the lawnmower band pull instead, pulling back and upward in the plane of the scapula, or seated Y-W raises with 2-3 lb weights to activate the shoulder blade without pec minor involvement.
Does your shoulder blade or scapula have you down? Here are 2 exercises that I would focus on. Most people focus on the low row, which is where you pull your arm straight back. Now, this is a good exercise for your scapula, but it's not the true exercises that I would focus on for my shoulder blade. One of the problems with the low row exercise is that the pec minor is active, and that's particularly a problem if people are tight in that area. So my first exercise that I really like is the lawnmower exercise. You take a band and put it on your opposite arm, and then you simply pull back and up the plane of the scapula. You'll feel your shoulder blade kind of pull back and activate. And when you're doing this exercise, the pec minor is not as active. Another exercise I really like for people with a tight pec minor is do YWs. So I want to sit upright, make sure my back is engaged with a very light weight. Here I'm just using 2 to 3 pounds. I'm going to start with a Y and then bring my hands and arms back in a W, feeling my scapulas engage. So if you're having trouble with your scapulas, try adding those exercises to your regime.
