upper

Build your upper back and lats while strengthening the lockout on your conventional deadlifts. The upper back and lats essentially perform in an isometric fashion during the conventional deadlift. The problem is, the start of the movement is initiated by a push off the floor using a degree of...

PLUG YOUR STRENGTH LEAKS Are you aware of the "strength leaks" phenomenon? If not, imagine that your body is a tube and water is being poured into it. The water going in is the force your muscles are producing (e.g., feet pushing on the floor in a squat) and the water coming out is the amount of...

Want healthier shoulders, better posture, and a bigger bench press? Do band pull-aparts. In a world of constant sitting and looking at computer screens, many fall victim to protracted shoulders and slouching. You're probably slouching right now as you're reading this. A simple solution...

It could be argued that the three most popular pieces of gym equipment are in no particular order are the flat benches, standing cable machines and the lat pulldown machine. Take a look around your gym, while the adductor machines remains empty. Often you will find lifters milling around these...

There’s probably no need to tell you that dumbbell rows are near the top of the list when it comes to helping build a massive back, as well as blow up your biceps and improve your grip strength. But did you know that a combination of different unilateral dumbbell row variations each serve a...

Upper-Back Isometrics and Shoulder Pain The barbell bench press is the universal standard for upper-body strength, but it’s also one of the most injury-inducing exercises. So what exactly gets injured the most when benching? Generally, the anterior part 58 of the shoulder. There could be...

One of your goals, when you hit the gym, is probably well-defined pecs. A built chest gives the appearance of strength, but also stabilizes the shoulders, improves posture, and promotes overall upper-body strength. The chest is made up of two major muscle groups—the pectoralis major and...

One of the best pieces of muscle-building is that you must row to grow. You may have heard this before, but it bears repeating because too many lifters still focus on the mirror muscles. Training the posterior delts, upper back, and lats must be a priority when muscle and strength are your...

When most lifters think of their traps, they visualize only the small portion of the upper traps they see from the front. But the trapezius is a big muscle, originating at the base of the skull, running down to the upper and mid-back, and running width-wise covering both scapulas. If all you do...

Have you heard the term out of sight, out of mind? This can be applied in many gym settings where some beginner and intermediate lifters train the mirror muscles—you know, abs, pecs and biceps—and forget those all-important posterior muscles. That’s where the inverted row comes in. One muscle...

Having a shoulder injury can affect the whole upper body workout of a bodybuilder. Shoulders of a human being have a rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint. How does a person acquire a shoulder injury? The answer lies in the fact that...

If you want to sport a powerful, thick, and full chest, then you have to start at the top. In other words, make your upper pecs the top priority. If you like the volume of this workout by itself, use it as your chest day plan. If you'd prefer to do more work, then start with this workout and...

The thoracic spine, or upper back, is an often overlooked area of the body. Many athletes who struggle with overhead lifts have trouble because their upper back is stiff. For individuals with neck and back pain, improving the thoracic spine can also be a great way to help improve symptoms. If...

Of all the things we go to the gym for, posture is rarely at the top of the list. However, it is one of the most important things we can consider improving in our lives. With more and more of us stuck sitting in office chairs for a large portion of our days, it is all the more important that we...

Unlike unilateral row exercises bilateral vertical and horizontal pulling exercises like chin-ups bent over barbell rows, and seated rows often get all the love and attention. Because this is where the gains are due to the fact you’ll lift more weight. It’s a shame that unilateral row exercises...

Reach your muscle building goals with this balanced 4 day training split that mixes heavy compound exercises, machines, cables and incorporates 3 second negatives. WORKOUT SUMMARY Main Goal Build Muscle Workout Type Split Training Level Beginner Program Duration10 weeks Days Per Week 4 Time Per...

This dumbbell only upper/lower workout program only requires dumbbells and is perfect for those looking to build lean muscle mass at home or on the go! WORKOUT SUMMARY Main Goal Build Muscle Workout Type Split Training Level Beginner Program Duration12 weeks Days Per Week 4 Time Per...

Glen Pendlay was so modest when he came up with the idea for this row, he called the strict barbell row. He saw a weakness in the traditional barbell bentover row and set about to improve it with the Pendlay row. The legendary American weightlifting coach who unfortunately is no longer with us...

Learn all about the most important exercises to incorporate into an upper body workout routine (Plus we provide 3 full workouts that put it all together)! WORKOUT SUMMARY Main Goal Build Muscle Workout Type Split Training Level Beginner Program Duration18 weeks Days Per Week 4 Time Per...

Don't have access to your favorite upper body gym machines but still want to hit your favorite upper body workout? Check out these band, barbell, and dumbbell alternatives! Getting the motivation to train at home can be tricky. You’re not at the gym surrounded by other people training with the...