Back · Dumbbell · Compound · Beginner
Standing Dumbbell Upright Row


PrimarySecondary
- Main muscles
- Traps
- Also working
- Biceps, Shoulders
How to do it
- Grasp a dumbbell in each hand with a pronated (palms forward) grip that is slightly less than shoulder width. The dumbbells should be resting on top of your thighs. Your arms should be extended with a slight bend at the elbows and your back should be straight. This will be your starting position.
- Use your side shoulders to lift the dumbbells as you exhale. The dumbbells should be close to the body as you move it up and the elbows should drive the motion. Continue to lift them until they nearly touch your chin. Tip: Your elbows should drive the motion. As you lift the dumbbells, your elbows should always be higher than your forearms. Also, keep your torso stationary and pause for a second at the top of the movement.
- Lower the dumbbells back down slowly to the starting position. Inhale as you perform this portion of the movement.
Swaps on other equipment
Each has the traps as its main muscle and is also a pull, on a different piece of equipment.
Other trap exercises
- Scapular Pull-Up · Bodyweight
- Smith Machine Behind the Back Shrug · Machine
- Smith Machine Upright Row · Machine
- Snatch Shrug · Barbell
- Upright Cable Row · Cable
- Upright Row - With Bands · Bands
Steps and photos from the public-domain Free Exercise DB, not individually reviewed. How this site is put together · Report a mistake