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LiftSets / Exercises / Bent Over One-Arm Long Bar Row

Bent Over One-Arm Long Bar Row

Works the middle back. Helped by the biceps, lats, lower back and traps.

Bent Over One-Arm Long Bar Row, start position, with the working muscles highlighted
Start
Bent Over One-Arm Long Bar Row, finish position, with the working muscles highlighted
Finish

Bright blue is the target muscle. Darker blue is helping. The app shows this as a moving demo.

Muscles worked

middle backbicepslatslower backtraps

How many reps

GoalReps per set
Strength3-6
Muscle size6-10
Endurance12-20+

Whatever the number, the set should end within a rep or two of the point where you could not do another with good form.

KitBarbell
LevelBeginner

What to think about

How to do it

  1. Put weight on one of the ends of an Olympic barbell. Make sure that you either place the other end of the barbell in the corner of two walls; or put a heavy object on the ground so the barbell cannot slide backward.
  2. Bend forward until your torso is as close to parallel with the floor as you can and keep your knees slightly bent.
  3. Now grab the bar with one arm just behind the plates on the side where the weight was placed and put your other hand on your knee. This will be your starting position.
  4. Pull the bar straight up with your elbow in (to maximize back stimulation) until the plates touch your lower chest. Squeeze the back muscles as you lift the weight up and hold for a second at the top of the movement. Breathe out as you lift the weight. Tip: Do not allow for any swinging of the torso. Only the arm should move.
  5. Slowly lower the bar to the starting position getting a nice stretch on the lats. Tip: Do not let the plates touch the floor. To ensure the best range of motion, I recommend using small plates (25-lb ones) as opposed to larger plates (like 35-45lb ones).
  6. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions and switch arms.

Other exercises for the middle back

Track it in LiftSets

Log Bent Over One-Arm Long Bar Row with last time's numbers in front of you, a rest timer on your lock screen and a graph of your progress.

Coming soon to the App Store