All Exercises

Cable Lying Upright Row

Perform the Cable Lying Upright Row to build strong, sculpted shoulders and a powerful upper back.

Intermediate
Compound
Pull
1 min per set2 min rest

Description

A Cable Lying Upright Row is a compound exercise that primarily targets the shoulders and upper back, with emphasis on the traps.

How to Do Cable Lying Upright Row

  1. 1
    Setup

    Lie supine on a flat bench with your head near the cable machine, feet flat on the floor for stability.

  2. 2
    Setup

    Grasp a straight bar attachment with an overhand grip, hands slightly narrower than shoulder-width apart.

  3. 3
    Setup

    Extend your arms fully towards the cable pulley, ensuring there is tension on the cable.

  4. 4

    Initiate the movement by pulling the bar straight up towards your chin, leading with your elbows.

  5. 5

    Contract your shoulders and upper traps at the top, keeping your elbows higher than your wrists.

  6. 6

    Slowly lower the bar back to the starting position with control, fully extending your arms to stretch the muscles.

Tips

  • Maintain a neutral spine throughout the movement by engaging your core, preventing your lower back from arching off the bench.
  • Focus on leading with your elbows to maximize deltoid and trap activation, rather than pulling primarily with your biceps.
  • Control both the upward and downward phases of the movement; avoid using momentum to lift the weight.
  • Keep your wrists straight and rigid to prevent strain, ensuring the force is transferred effectively through your forearms.

Common Mistakes

  • ×Using too much weight often leads to excessive body English or swinging the weight; reduce the load to ensure strict form and muscle isolation.
  • ×Flaring elbows too wide can place undue stress on the shoulder joint; keep your elbows tracking relatively close to your body, leading straight up.
  • ×Shrugging excessively can take tension away from the deltoids; focus on pulling the bar vertically rather than just lifting your shoulders.

Variations

Related Exercises

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