The chest supported dumbbell row is a great exercise for strengthening the muscles in the mid to upper back, and the rear delts. It is also a fantastic option for people who have shoulder issues and are not able to perform overhead presses, and/or are looking to rehabilitate their shoulders.
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What part of the back do chest supported rows work?
Like all row exercises, chest-supported dumbbell rows primarily target your back muscles. And, more specifically, these key back muscles: Latissimus dorsi (lats): The lats are the primary pulling muscles in your back. Not only that, but they’re also the largest muscles in the entire upper body.
What are chest supported rows good for?
- Latissimus dorsi. The lats are a pair of fan-shaped muscles that span your mid and lower back and connect to your upper arms.
- Trapezius.
- Rhomboids.
- Biceps.
Are chest supported rows good for lats?
The Chest-Supported Row: Your Secret Weapon To Building Massive Lats. Out of all of the exercises that you can use to build strong and powerful lat muscles, none are more powerful than the chest-supported row.
Are chest supported rows better than bent-over rows?
For increasing overall posterior chain strength and hypertrophy, the bent-over barbell row is a superior exercise compared to a chest-supported row. With that said, chest-supported rows allow you to minimize lower back involvement and isolate the different muscles of the back to a much greater degree.
How do I target my rear delts?
- Single-arm bent-over row. The days you work your shoulders and back are the perfect time to add this move.
- Standing bent-over lateral raise.
- Cable machine high pull with ropes.
- Rear deltoid machine.
- Assisted pullup.
- Side-lying external rotation.
What muscles do chest supported rows work?
The chest-supported dumbbell row. “It works your back, rear shoulders, improves your posture, and boosts your bench press,” he says.
How much weight should I use for chest-supported row?
The average Chest Supported Dumbbell Row weight for a male lifter is 82 lb (1RM). This makes you Intermediate on Strength Level and is a very impressive lift. What is a good Chest Supported Dumbbell Row? Male beginners should aim to lift 20 lb (1RM) which is still impressive compared to the general population.
What can I do instead of chest-supported row?
Incline Prone Dumbbell Row. The incline prone dumbbell row is a free weight alternative to the iso-lateral chest-supported row that uses a free weight bench and dumbbells. It’s a similar alternative to the seated row but provides the option of adjusting the exercise to target different parts of your back more.
Can you do chest supported rows on a flat bench?

Is seated row worth it?
You can also do it on a seated cable row machine or by pulling a resistance band. This exercise will tone and strengthen your upper body, which is essential for everyday movements, including pulling. Having a strong upper body also improves posture, protects your shoulders, and reduces your risk of injury.
Do rows hit lats?
Defense Rows are great for building a wide, thick back. They hit all areas of the lats โ as well as most other back muscles, such as the middle traps, rhomboids and teres major.
Which back row is best?
The bent-over barbell row is the best back movement in terms of sheer weight a person can lift. It equally works the larger muscle groups of the lower and upper back, making this exercise a great overall back builder.
What is the best row variation?
- Bent over row (3 sets of 10 to 12 reps)
- One-arm dumbbell row (3 sets of 8 to 10 reps on each arm)
- T-bar row (3 sets of 10 reps)
- Gorilla row (3 sets of 10 reps on each arm)
- Inverted row (3 sets of 10 to 15 reps)
Are gorilla rows effective?
The lats give your back its width. The functions of the lats are shoulder adduction and extension. Gorilla rows are a very effective lat builder.
Why won’t my rear delts grow?
1 You’re Going Too Heavy There’s a reason your rear delts are underdeveloped and weak โ it’s because you’re using too much weight to get the job done and other muscle groups are actually completing the rep. Since the rear delts aren’t easy to hit, we need to respect that it won’t take much weight to hit them hard.
How do you isolate rear delts?

Do you need to isolate rear delts?
The rear delts still need rest: Typically, you don’t want to work a muscle on consecutive days to allow for more optimal recovery. So, if you want to hit your rear delts hard, consider separating your back and shoulder workouts by at least 48 hours.
Do rows work out chest?
Dumbbell rows work muscle groups in your upper body. Although the dumbbell row prioritizes your back muscles, it also provides a comprehensive upper-body workout by activating several other muscle groups, including your chest muscles, core muscles, glutes, lower back muscles, and triceps.
Why are chest supported rows harder?
Unlike other rows like the bent-over row, your lower back and hamstrings aren’t recruited to stabilise the movement. By removing the need for other muscles to stabilise the body throughout the movement, this row is much more effective for targeting the back muscles.
What is a humble row?
What is a humble row? The humble row is a form chest supported dumbbell row. If you’re wondering if there’s something that makes the humble row different from a normal chest supported dumbbell row, that would be the wrist and elbows position that leads to more rear deltoid, rhomboid and trap activation.
Are rows better than pulldowns?
When subjects did seated cable rows, muscle activity of the lats was more than 40% greater than when they did wide-grip pulldowns. Rows appear to be a better exercise for stimulating more of the lat muscle fibers and, therefore, helping to build a bigger back.
Whats better seated row or bent-over row?
Seated Cable Rows might be better than Bent-Over Barbell Rows for athletes who have trouble with their hip hinge and lower-back strength, because Seated Cable Rows place you in a stable upright position, where you can focus more on strengthening your scapulae than your lower back.
Is bent-over row better than seated row?
They are both compound exercises that focus mainly on your back muscles. While they work the same muscle groups, the bent-over barbell row is slightly more advanced than the seated cable row and you need complete understanding of the proper execution to avoid injury.
What’s the hardest muscle to build?
- Obliques. Pretty much everyone does the standard ab crunches, but crunches aren’t going to develop your obliques.
- Calves.
- Forearms.
- Triceps.
- Lower stomach.