Guide to Cable Bicep Curl: Tips, Benefits, Common Mistakes
For example, pull-ups, chin-ups, rows, and deadlifts all provide some activation. Because of the biceps’ anatomy, many exercises that involve a supinated, or underhand, grip will recruit the biceps to some degree. Cable Barbell Curls offer a unique twist to traditional barbell curls, providing constant tension for enhanced muscle activation. Rope Hammer Curls provide a unique twist to traditional bicep exercises, targeting both the biceps and brachialis for increased muscle definition.
Best Shoulder Press Alternatives (with Pictures!)
Cori Ritchey, C.S.C.S., is the fitness editor at Women’s Health, as well as a certified strength and condition coach and group fitness instructor. She’s reported on topics regarding health, nutrition, mental health, fitness, sex, and relationships for several years. You can find more of her work in Men’s Health, HealthCentral, Livestrong, Self, and others.
How to improve your bicep cable workouts
Again, set the pulley at the lowest position and attach the straight bar. Then stand with your back to the cable and hold the bar behind you with an overhand grip. Lastly, a cable arm workout wouldn’t be complete without a couple of exercises to target your lower arms. When performing this exercise on the cables, stand close to the pulley, so you pull the weight straight up. Before getting into the cable exercises, it’s vital to understand arm muscle anatomy.
High cable curl

But this arm angle also works best for hitting the short head of the inner bicep. One more outer bicep cable arm exercise is the reverse curl, where you hold the bar with an overhand (pronated) grip. Again, this hand position works best for the long head and brachialis. The video below shows a back-supported variation of the dual cable bayesian curl.
BRACHIORADIALIS
Research has shown that you can expect better results in terms of muscle hypertrophy and strength gains during the eccentric portion of an exercise. Cables and free weights are both effective when targeting the biceps, but each comes with their own unique set of benefits. Your bicep muscles also play a role in stabilizing is madmuscles legit the shoulder joint, predominantly during overhead movements, and in assisting shoulder flexion and rotation. Cable machines are fantastic because they offer constant resistance through the entire motion of each curl. This means every part of the movement makes your muscles work hard, including those important stabilizing muscles around your shoulders. Comprising a fusion of intensity, precision, and innovation, this workout is designed to leave an indelible mark on your arm training journey.
- Yet most lifters treat it like an afterthought, cranking out half-reps on the Cable Pushdown and wondering why their arms never grow.
- Grab a cable machine and slide the handle down to the lowest setting to start.
- This intense bicep workout will give you an insane pump and some serious upper arm muscle growth.
- These cable exercises will benefit performance with other upper-body lifts as well, such as the bench press and deadlift.
- And you can replicate this fundamental movement on the cable apparatus.
- The neutral grip using a rope attachment engages all areas of the bicep, resulting in more growth.
Beginner Biceps Cable Workouts
Way too many people follow programs that don’t train the forearms efficiently. Most routines are lucky to even have one forearm exercise, let alone a compound exercise that targets this muscle group. Biceps cable curls can be tailored to suit your training goals with light, moderate, and heavy load options. You can perform concentration curls with cables instead of dumbbells, which helps keep your muscle fibers under uniform tension throughout the entire exercise. Here are some tips for how to program cable bicep exercises into your workouts and how to progress them once you’ve plateaued. For example, a single-grip handle isolates the arm individually, while a cable rope attachment allows for external rotation at the top to fully shorten the muscle.
FOREARM EXERCISES TO SUPPORT THE BICEPS
A 2018 study published in Peer J6 compared EZ bar curls, straight bar curls, and dumbbell curls. Cables offer a unique benefit by maintaining tension throughout the entire movement — something dumbbells can’t always match. This https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zxd4wxs/revision/2 means better stimulation and growth opportunities for those looking to build their best biceps yet. Cable Kickbacks provide targeted activation of the triceps’ lateral head, promoting a balanced and sculpted arm appearance. To perform the overhead curl, kneel or sit on the floor in front of a high pulley, as shown below. Start by placing the pulley at the lowest position and attaching the dual rope handle.
Why Is It Important To Have Strong Biceps?
This tension is key for maximizing hypertrophy and strength gains, as confirmed by the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. Apply these tips, perfect your technique, and watch your biceps grow stronger with every rep. Sticking to just one type of curl can lead to discrepancies in strength and limit your results. trustpilot.com/review/madmuscles.com This is key to maintaining optimal tension and achieving improved strength in the muscle. If you’re not doing the Cable Curl, you’re missing out on one of the best ways to blow up your biceps. To get the most out of this movement, you need to optimize your starting position.
Benefits of Training with Cables
Regarding arm training, cable arm workouts stand out as a practical and versatile option. You can sculpt stronger, more defined arms by incorporating the nine best cable machine arm exercises into your routine. This comprehensive guide will review the world of cable machine arm workouts, focusing on the best 9 exercises for bigger biceps and triceps. Whether you’re a seasoned gym-goer or a beginner, these cable arm workouts will help deliver the best results and the arm definition you’ve always desired. In addition, the cable machine puts more tension on your biceps at the top of the movement.
SETS AND REPS
Remember to keep the weights low to start with and perform all exercises to a full range of motion. The fact of the matter is the cable machine doesn’t always get its due when putting together an effective bicep-building regimen. Rope curls with the cable machine also engage stabilizing muscles for a well-rounded arm workout. Incorporating high cable rope curls into your routine can bring out specific areas of the biceps, accentuating their shape and size.