Back · Barbell · Compound · Beginner

Bent Over Barbell Row

Bent Over Barbell Row, start position
Start
Bent Over Barbell Row, end position
End
FrontBack
PrimarySecondary
Main muscles
Upper Back
Also working
Biceps, Lats, Shoulders

How to do it

  1. Holding a barbell with a pronated grip (palms facing down), bend your knees slightly and bring your torso forward, by bending at the waist, while keeping the back straight until it is almost parallel to the floor. Tip: Make sure that you keep the head up. The barbell should hang directly in front of you as your arms hang perpendicular to the floor and your torso. This is your starting position.
  2. Now, while keeping the torso stationary, breathe out and lift the barbell to you. Keep the elbows close to the body and only use the forearms to hold the weight. At the top contracted position, squeeze the back muscles and hold for a brief pause.
  3. Then inhale and slowly lower the barbell back to the starting position.

Swaps on other equipment

Each has the upper back as its main muscle and is also a pull, on a different piece of equipment.

Other upper back exercises

Steps and photos from the public-domain Free Exercise DB, not individually reviewed. How this site is put together · Report a mistake