Middle Back Exercises
Exercises targeting Middle Back.
Showing 1–30 of 88 exercises
Atlas Stones
Begin with the atlas stone between your feet. Bend at the hips to wrap your arms vertically around the Atlas Stone, attempting to get your fingers underneath the stone. Many stones will have a small flat portion on the bottom, which will make the stone easier to hold.
Axle Deadlift
Approach the bar so that it is centered over your feet. You feet should be about hip width apart. Bend at the hip to grip the bar at shoulder width, allowing your shoulder blades to protract. Typically, you would use an over/under grip.
Back Flyes - With Bands
Run a band around a stationary post like that of a squat rack.
Band Assisted Pull-Up
Choke the band around the center of the pullup bar. You can use different bands to provide varying levels of assistance.
Band Pull Apart
Begin with your arms extended straight out in front of you, holding the band with both hands.
Barbell Deadlift
Stand in front of a loaded barbell.
Bent Over Two-Arm Long Bar Row
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.
Bent Over Two-Dumbbell Row
With a dumbbell in each hand (palms facing your torso), bend your knees slightly and bring your torso forward by bending at the waist; as you bend make sure to keep your back straight until it is almost parallel to the floor. Tip: Make sure that you keep the head up. The weights should hang directly in front of you as your arms hang perpendicular to the floor and your torso. This is your starting position.
Bent Over Two-Dumbbell Row With Palms In
With a dumbbell in each hand (palms facing each other), bend your knees slightly and bring your torso forward, by bending at the waist, while keeping the back straight until it is almost parallel to the floor. Tip: Make sure that you keep the head up. The weights should hang directly in front of you as your arms hang perpendicular to the floor and your torso. This is your starting position.
Bodyweight Mid Row
Begin by taking a medium to wide grip on a pull-up apparatus with your palms facing away from you. From a hanging position, tuck your knees to your chest, leaning back and getting your legs over your side of the pull-up apparatus. This will be your starting position.
Cable Rope Rear-Delt Rows
Sit in the same position on a low pulley row station as you would if you were doing seated cable rows for the back.
Cable Seated Lateral Raise
Stand in the middle of two low pulleys that are opposite to each other and place a flat bench right behind you (in perpendicular fashion to you; the narrow edge of the bench should be the one behind you). Select the weight to be used on each pulley.
Cat Stretch
Position yourself on the floor on your hands and knees.
Chin-Up
Grab the pull-up bar with the palms facing your torso and a grip closer than the shoulder width.
Clean and Press
Assume a shoulder-width stance, with knees inside the arms. Now while keeping the back flat, bend at the knees and hips so that you can grab the bar with the arms fully extended and a pronated grip that is slightly wider than shoulder width. Point the elbows out to sides. The bar should be close to the shins. Position the shoulders over or slightly ahead of the bar. Establish a flat back posture. This will be your starting position.
Clean Deadlift
Begin standing with a barbell close to your shins. Your feet should be directly under your hips with your feet turned out slightly. Grip the bar with a double overhand grip or hook grip, about shoulder width apart. Squat down to the bar. Your spine should be in full extension, with a back angle that places your shoulders in front of the bar and your back as vertical as possible.
Close-Grip Front Lat Pulldown
Sit down on a pull-down machine with a wide bar attached to the top pulley. Make sure that you adjust the knee pad of the machine to fit your height. These pads will prevent your body from being raised by the resistance attached to the bar.
Deadlift with Bands
To deadlift with short bands, simply loop them over the bar before you start, and step into them to set up. For long bands, they will need to be anchored to a secure base, such as heavy dumbbells or a rack.
Deadlift with Chains
You can attach the chains to the sleeves of the bar, or just drape the middle over the bar so there is a greater weight increase as you lift.
Deficit Deadlift
Begin by having a platform or weight plates that you can stand on, usually 1-3 inches in height. Approach the bar so that it is centered over your feet. You feet should be about hip width apart. Bend at the hip to grip the bar at shoulder width, allowing your shoulder blades to protract. Typically, you would use an overhand grip or an over/under grip on heavier sets.
Dumbbell Incline Row
Using a neutral grip, lean into an incline bench.
Dumbbell Lying One-Arm Rear Lateral Raise
While holding a dumbbell in one hand, lay with your chest down on a slightly inclined (around 15 degrees when measured from the floor) adjustable bench. The other hand can be used to hold to the leg of the bench for stability.
Dynamic Chest Stretch
Stand with your hands together, arms extended directly in front of you. This will be your starting position.
Elevated Cable Rows
Get a platform of some sort (it can be an aerobics or calf raise platform) that is around 4-6 inches in height.
Face Pull
Facing a high pulley with a rope or dual handles attached, pull the weight directly towards your face, separating your hands as you do so. Keep your upper arms parallel to the ground.
Full Range-Of-Motion Lat Pulldown
Either standing or seated on a high bench, grasp two stirrup cables that are attached to the high pulleys. Grab with the opposing hand so your arms are crisscrossed about you and your palms are facing forward.
Gironda Sternum Chins
Grasp the pull-up bar with a shoulder width underhand grip.
Incline Bench Pull
Grab a dumbbell in each hand and lie face down on an incline bench that is set to an incline that is approximately 30 degrees.
Inverted Row
Position a bar in a rack to about waist height. You can also use a smith machine.
Inverted Row with Straps
Hang a rope or suspension straps from a rack or other stable object. Grasp the ends and position yourself in a supine position hanging from the ropes. Your body should be straight with your heels on the ground with your arms fully extended. This will be your starting position.
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