All Exercises
Middle Back

Middle Back Exercises

Exercises targeting Middle Back.

Showing 61–88 of 88 exercises

Scapular Pull-Up

Take a pronated grip on a pull-up bar.

Traps
Lats
Middle Back
Beginner

Seated Cable Rows

For this exercise you will need access to a low pulley row machine with a V-bar. Note: The V-bar will enable you to have a neutral grip where the palms of your hands face each other. To get into the starting position, first sit down on the machine and place your feet on the front platform or crossbar provided making sure that your knees are slightly bent and not locked.

Middle Back
Biceps
Lats
Beginner

Seated One-arm Cable Pulley Rows

To get into the starting position, first sit down on the machine and place your feet on the front platform or crossbar provided making sure that your knees are slightly bent and not locked.

Middle Back
Biceps
Lats
Intermediate

Shotgun Row

Attach a single handle to a low cable.

Lats
Biceps
Middle Back
Beginner

Side To Side Chins

Grab the pull-up bar with the palms facing forward using a wide grip.

Lats
Biceps
Forearms
Intermediate

Sledgehammer Swings

You will need a tire and a sledgehammer for this exercise. Stand in front of the tire about two feet away from it with a staggered stance. Grip the sledgehammer.

Core
Calves
Forearms
Beginner

Sled Overhead Backward Walk

Attach dual handles to a sled connected by a rope or chain. Load the sled to a light weight.

Shoulders
Calves
Middle Back
Beginner

Sled Row

Attach dual handles to a sled connected by a rope or chain. Load the sled to an appropriate weight. Face the sled, backing up until there is some tension in the line.

Middle Back
Biceps
Lats
Beginner

Smith Machine Bent Over Row

Set the barbell attached to the smith machine to a height that is about 2 inches below your knees.

Middle Back
Biceps
Lats
Beginner

Smith Machine Upright Row

To begin, set the bar on the smith machine to a height that is around the middle of your thighs. Once the correct height is chosen and the bar is loaded, grasp the bar using a pronated (palms forward) grip that is shoulder width apart. You may need some wrist wraps if using a significant amount of weight.

Traps
Biceps
Middle Back
Beginner

Spinal Stretch

Sit in a chair so your back is straight and your feet planted on the floor.

Middle Back
Lats
Lower Back
Beginner

Straight Bar Bench Mid Rows

Place a loaded barbell on the end of a bench. Standing on the bench behind the bar, take a medium, pronated grip. Stand with your hips back and chest up, maintaining a neutral spine. This will be your starting position.

Middle Back
Biceps
Lats
Beginner

Sumo Deadlift

Begin with a bar loaded on the ground. Approach the bar so that the bar intersects the middle of the feet. The feet should be set very wide, near the collars. Bend at the hips to grip the bar. The arms should be directly below the shoulders, inside the legs, and you can use a pronated grip, a mixed grip, or hook grip. Relax the shoulders, which in effect lengthens your arms.

Hamstrings
Adductors
Forearms
Intermediate

Sumo Deadlift with Bands

To deadlift with short bands, simply loop them over the bar before you start, and step into them to set up. Ensure that they under the back half of your foot, directly where you are driving into the floor.

Hamstrings
Adductors
Forearms
Intermediate

Sumo 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. Attempt to keep the ends of the chains away from the plates so you don't hit them when you lower the weight.

Hamstrings
Abductors
Adductors
Intermediate

Suspended Row

Suspend your straps at around chest height. Take a handle in each hand and lean back. Keep your body erect and your head and chest up. Your arms should be fully extended. This will be your starting position.

Middle Back
Biceps
Lats
Beginner

T-Bar Row with Handle

Position a bar into a landmine or in a corner to keep it from moving. Load an appropriate weight onto your end.

Middle Back
Biceps
Lats
Beginner

Two-Arm Kettlebell Row

Place two kettlebells in front of your feet. Bend your knees slightly and then push your butt out as much as possible as you bend over to get in the starting position.

Middle Back
Biceps
Lats
Intermediate

Underhand Cable Pulldowns

Sit down on a pull-down machine with a wide bar attached to the top pulley. 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.

Lats
Biceps
Middle Back
Beginner

Upper Back-Leg Grab

While seated, bend forward to hug your thighs from underneath with both arms.

Hamstrings
Lower Back
Middle Back
Beginner

Upper Back Stretch

Clasp fingers together with your thumbs pointing down, round your shoulders as you reach your hands forward.

Middle Back
Beginner

V-Bar Pulldown

Sit down on a pull-down machine with a V-Bar attached to the top pulley.

Lats
Biceps
Middle Back
Intermediate

V-Bar Pullup

Start by placing the middle of the V-bar in the middle of the pull-up bar (assuming that the pull-up station you are using does not have neutral grip handles). The V-Bar handles will be facing down so that you can hang from the pull-up bar through the use of the handles.

Lats
Biceps
Middle Back
Beginner

Weighted Ball Hyperextension

To begin, lie down on an exercise ball with your torso pressing against the ball and parallel to the floor. The ball of your feet should be pressed against the floor to help keep you balanced. Place a weighted plate under your chin or behind your neck. This is the starting position.

Lower Back
Glutes
Hamstrings
Intermediate

Weighted Pull Ups

Attach a weight to a dip belt and secure it around your waist. Grab the pull-up bar with the palms of your hands facing forward. For a medium grip, your hands should be spaced at shoulder width. Both arms should be extended in front of you holding the bar at the chosen grip.

Lats
Biceps
Middle Back
Intermediate

Wide-Grip 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.

Lats
Biceps
Middle Back
Beginner

Wide-Grip Pulldown Behind The Neck

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.

Lats
Biceps
Middle Back
Intermediate

Wide-Grip Rear Pull-Up

Grab the pull-up bar with the palms facing forward using a wide grip.

Lats
Biceps
Middle Back
Intermediate