Standing Dumbbell Upright Row

TrapsDumbbellBeginnerCompound
Standing Dumbbell Upright Row — start position
Start
Standing Dumbbell Upright Row — finish position
Finish
Muscles worked
PrimaryTraps
SecondaryBiceps, Shoulders

How to do it

  1. 01

    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.

  2. 02

    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.

  3. 03

    Lower the dumbbells back down slowly to the starting position. Inhale as you perform this portion of the movement.

  4. 04

    Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

In the app

Standing Dumbbell Upright Row appears when you own dumbbells and the day's window has room for it. Loads come from Rule 3 (Loads rise when earned, read from RPE, graded strong) and climb on the reps you actually did.

If a machine is taken the engine swaps a same-pattern movement and says why.

If you don't have dumbbells

Same movement pattern, same primary muscles — swap by what you have.

With machine
With bands

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