Bent over row form

[Todd]

Good point!

cursor, if you had continued reading the definitions you will see where it states:

To bend backward: The dancers alternately arched and hunched their backs

Most people learn what it means to arch their back in grade school gym classes.

Originally Posted by cursor

OK ... what does it mean to arch "backward"?

I can't find that reference anywhere in the first 6 posts of this thread???

[cursor]

f i n e

Originally Posted by JMike

Yeah I think that my lower back isn't really strong enough for the weight I should be doing for the row. I'll stick at lower weights and keep up the good mornings I guess.

Thanks
Mike

Mike, I apologize for hijacking your thread. The weight you are using now is what you are meant to be using. Keep good form, slowly increase the weight you are using, and in short order your lower back will be strong enough to give your mid back and lats a proper workout.

[CF-OC_gal]

Both those example show an almost upright upper position and moving the upper torso to more upright position while actually rowing. Is this the common way to do this? (the exrx one less so)

I bend over more and concentrate on keeping my upper body in the same plane (horizontal with an arch) as the starting position throughout. Is there anything wrong with doing it this way?

Holding the upper body at a 45 degree angle (or there abouts) was popularized by Dorian Yates back in the 90's He had phenominal lats and credited his unorthodox style with giving him his "wings". Many people do rows that way as it tends to be easier on the lower back. I'm not sure how this would fit into the caution that standAPART mentioned.

Rows are one of those exercises that can have many different variations - each one placing subtle emphasis on a particular area. It has been my experience that if I hold the elbows close to the body it tends to hit the lower lats better. If the elbows are flared out to the side it seems as if more rear delt is recruited.

The back several different muscles responsible for various movements of the arms and shoulders. It can pay to mix things up a bit in an exercise like rows.

[standAPART]

Dorian Yates was also a HGH and avid steroid user....

[Lady C]

Originally Posted by standAPART

Dorian Yates was also a HGH and avid steroid user....

That is irrelevant to this discussion - don't you think?

[JMike]

Thanks again guys. Looking at the various images/animations it's clear that there is no set form for this. Just guidelines. I'll have to find what works best for me.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by standAPART

Dorian Yates was also a HGH and avid steroid user....

[etothepii]

just becaue I can't mind my own business... I think the opposite of arch is hunch.

lol at Todd.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by etothepii

just becaue I can't mind my own business... I think the opposite of arch is hunch.