Assisted Chest Dip (kneeling)
Master the chest dip with this assisted kneeling version, perfect for beginners or those needing support.
Description
A kneeling version of the chest dip exercise, especially suited for beginners or individuals who cannot support all their body weight.
How to Do Assisted Chest Dip (kneeling)
- 1Setup
Adjust the machine's pad to a comfortable height and select your desired assistance weight. Kneel on the pad, grasping the parallel handles with a neutral grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width.
- 2Setup
Lean your torso slightly forward, tuck your chin, and depress your scapulae (pulling your shoulder blades down) to set your chest for the movement.
- 3
Inhale and slowly lower your body by bending your elbows, allowing them to flare out slightly, until your shoulders are below your elbows. Maintain the forward lean throughout the descent.
- 4
Exhale and powerfully push through your palms to extend your elbows, driving your body back up to the starting position. Focus on squeezing your chest at the top of the movement.
- 5
Avoid locking out your elbows completely at the top to maintain continuous tension in the chest and triceps. Control the movement for the entire range of motion.
Tips
- Maintain a consistent forward lean of your torso throughout the entire exercise to effectively target the sternal head of the pectoralis major.
- Control the eccentric (lowering) phase, taking 2-3 seconds to descend, which maximizes time under tension and promotes greater muscle growth.
- Actively depress your shoulder blades at the start and maintain this position to protect your shoulders and enhance chest activation, preventing shrugging.
- Breathe in as you lower your body and exhale forcefully as you push back up, which helps with core stability and power generation.
Common Mistakes
- ×Not leaning forward enough shifts the emphasis predominantly to the triceps; ensure a significant forward lean from the start to target the chest effectively.
- ×Shrugging your shoulders up towards your ears can strain the neck and shoulders; actively depress and retract your shoulder blades to keep tension in the target muscles.
- ×Using too much assistance weight reduces the challenge and muscle stimulus; gradually decrease the assistance as your strength improves to ensure progressive overload.
Variations

Assisted Wide Grip Chest Dip (kneeling)
Master the Assisted Wide Grip Chest Dip. This exercise builds significant chest and tricep strength, offering a safer alternative to unassisted dips.

Assisted Pulling Backs Chest Stretch
Improve flexibility and relieve tension in your chest and upper back with the Assisted Pulling Backs Chest Stretch.

Assisted Standing Chest Stretch
An assisted standing chest stretch opens the chest, improving flexibility and posture. Use a stable object for support to deepen the stretch safely.

Assisted Seated Chest Stretch
Gently stretch your chest muscles with this assisted seated stretch. A partner helps deepen the stretch, improving flexibility and posture.
Related Exercises

Lever Standing Chest Press
Perform a standing chest press using a lever machine to effectively build strength and muscle in your pectorals, anterior deltoids, and triceps.

Lever Chest Press (plate loaded)
Lever Chest Press targets your pectoralis major for powerful chest development. Learn proper form to maximize muscle engagement and build strength

Lever Chest Press
Lever Chest Press: Effectively build a strong, defined chest with this machine-based exercise. Focus on controlled movements to maximize muscle engagement.

Lever Decline Chest Press
Strengthen your lower chest with the Lever Decline Chest Press. This exercise targets the pectoralis major's sternal head, building definition and power

Assisted Standing Triceps Dip
Build triceps strength with machine assistance that lets you focus on proper dip form at a manageable load.

Dumbbell Complex Push-up Row Clean and Press
The ultimate full-body dumbbell complex combining a push-up, row, clean, and overhead press in one flow.
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