For someone who is in reasonable gymnastics shape, front lever pulls are primarily a core strength exercise; working every part of the core from the bottom of the sternum to the lowest low abs as well as the lower back. For everyone else, they seem to affect nearly every other part of the upper body as well.

When standing on tiptoe, the ball of the foot acts as the fulcrum, the weight of the body acts as the load and the effort comes from the contraction of the gastrocnemius muscle. This second class lever is used when taking off for a jump or pushing against the blocks in a sprint start.