Upright Row - With Bands
How to do the Upright Row - With Bands
- 1
To begin, stand on an exercise band so that tension begins at arm's length. Grasp the handles using a pronated (palms facing your thighs) grip that is slightly less than shoulder width. The handles 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
Use your side shoulders to lift the handles as you exhale. The handles should be close to the body as you move them up. Continue to lift the handles until they nearly touches your chin. Tip: Your elbows should drive the motion. As you lift the handles, 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
Lower the handles back down slowly to the starting position. Inhale as you perform this portion of the movement.
- 4
Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
How to program the Upright Row - With Bands
Sets and reps
As a compound movement, the Upright Row - With Bands responds well to heavier loading. For strength, work in the 3–5 sets of 4–8 reps range with 2–3 minutes of rest between sets. For muscle growth, 3–4 sets of 8–12 reps with 90 seconds of rest is the classic hypertrophy zone. Place it early in your session, when you're freshest, and leave 1–3 reps in reserve on most sets.
Progression
The Upright Row - With Bands is beginner-friendly. Start with a load (or rep count) you can complete with clean form on every set, then add a small amount of weight or 1–2 reps each week. When you hit the top of your rep range on all sets, increase the load and drop back to the bottom of the range — simple double progression.
Secondary muscles worked
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Frequently asked questions
What muscles does the Upright Row - With Bands work?
The Upright Row - With Bands primarily targets the Traps. It also recruits the Shoulders as supporting muscles.
What equipment do I need for the Upright Row - With Bands?
You need Bands. Difficulty level: Beginner.
How many sets and reps of the Upright Row - With Bands should I do?
For strength, do 3–5 sets of 4–8 reps with 2–3 minutes rest. For muscle growth, do 3–4 sets of 8–12 reps with about 90 seconds rest.
