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Back/shoulders with bar

1 min
 · 
12 exercises
Barbell Bench Press
Barbell Clean and Press
Barbell Shoulder Press
Bent Over Barbell Rows
T-Bar Rows
Close Grip Pullups
Incline Barbell Bench Chest Press
Inverted Rows
Pull-ups
Push-ups
Seated Barbell Military Press
Upright Barbell Rows
This Back/shoulders with bar 1 min-minute gym workout plan effectively targets your back, chest and shoulders. Easily follow this workout with confidence on your phone or printable exercise program with our clear exercise demonstrations. You can also look up step-by-step instructions for each of the 12 exercises and see which muscle groups they target. Enjoy!

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Back/shoulders with bar
1 min
 · 
12 exercises
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Barbell Bench Press
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321GO
Primary muscle group(s):
Chest
Secondary:
Shoulders, Triceps
  1. Position yourself with your back down on a flat bench placing the hands up on the bar using an underhand grip slightly wider than shoulder width apart.
  2. After taking a deep breath in, extend the elbows and lift the bar up off the rack until elbows are extended but not locked. Pause for a brief movement as you fully extend your breath.
  3. Lower the weight directly down to the chest as you breath inwards, keeping the movement pattern slow and steady.
  4. Once just above the chest, pause, and then press directly up again, exhaling your breath.
  5. Continue until all reps are completed and then re-rack the barbell.
Primary muscle group(s):
Chest
Secondary:
Abs, Shoulders, Triceps
  1. Lie on a flat bench holding a dumbbell in each hand with an overhand grip.
  2. Start by holding the dumbbells slightly wider than shoulder width apart above your shoulders. Your palms should be facing forward.
  3. Slowly bend your elbows until they are at a 90 degree angle and your upper arms are parallel to the ground.
  4. Push the weights up by straightening your arms.
  5. As you push the weights up, move your arms in an arc to bring the dumbbells together, until they meet over the center of your chest. Hold for a count of one.
  6. Lower the dumbbells by slowly bending your elbows back to 90 degrees.
  7. Continue lowering your arms until they are a little lower than parallel to the floor. (Your elbows should be pointing slightly towards the floor and you should feel a stretch in your chest muscles and shoulders.)
  8. Repeat

Be sure to concentrate on a balanced movement when lifting the dumbbells. Use both arms equally spaced and moving at the same speed.

Primary muscle group(s):
Chest
Secondary:
Abs, Shoulders, Triceps
  1. Place a pair of dumbbells on the floor. Lie on your back in between the dumbbells. Bend your knees and move your feet towards your butt.
  2. Grab the dumbbells and hold them above you. Allow your upper arms to remain on the floor. Begin the movement by pushing the dumbbells over your chest. Pause at the top and squeeze your chest muscles.
  3. Slowly bring the weights down to the starting position, allowing your arms to rest for a brief moment before beginning the next repetition.
Primary muscle group(s):
Chest
Secondary:
Abs, Shoulders, Triceps
  1. Sit on the seat with your upper chest just above the horizontal handles.
  2. Push the foot lever until you are able to grasp the lever.
  3. Gras the handles using a wide overhand grip and place your elbows out to the sides just below your shoulders.
  4. Release the foot lever and press the hand lever out until your arms are fully extended.
  5. Return the weight until your chest muscles are slightly stretched.
Primary muscle group(s):
Chest
Secondary:
Abs, Shoulders, Triceps
  1. Get into position by placing your hands flat on the floor, directly below your shoulders.
  2. Extend your legs out behind you, with only your toes and balls of your feet touching the floor.
  3. Hold your body up and keep your back straight by tightening your abdominal muscles.
  4. Your neck and head should be bent slightly back.
  5. Lower your chest towards the ground by bending your elbows until your chest is just above the ground or you feel a stretching of your chest and shoulders. Hold for a count of one.
  6. Press upwards from your chest and shoulders, straightening your arms as you return to the starting position. Hold for a count of one.
  7. Repeat.
Barbell Clean and Press
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Primary muscle group(s):
Shoulders
Secondary:
Calves, Glutes & Hip Flexors, Hamstrings, Lower Back, Quadriceps
  1. Shoulder-width stance. Tight core and flat back. Bend at the knees and hips. Lower yourself. Arms fully extended. Chest up and gaze straight ahead.
  2. Bring knees in and shoulders up. Drive hips forward. Keep the bar close to your body. Forcefully exhale and perform a full extension of the knees and hips.
  3. Use the momentum to bring elbows high. Rotate your elbows around and under the bar. Rack the bar across the front of your shoulders.
  4. Press the barbell above your head. Lower the bar.
Barbell Shoulder Press
No sets / reps / duration specified
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Primary muscle group(s):
Shoulders
Secondary:
Abs, Triceps, Upper Back & Lower Traps
  1. Place a bench with a back support inside a squat rack and set up a barbell at a height that is just above your head.
  2. Grip the barbell with an overhand grip.
  3. Space your hands out so that your elbows are bent at 90 degrees.
  4. Lift the bar to around shoulder level by extending your arms.  This is the start position.
  5. Inhaling, lower the bar  to your shoulders slowly.
  6. Hold for a count of one while squeezing your shoulder muscles.
  7. Push the barbell back to the start position as you exhaling as you do so..
  8. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

This exercise can also be performed standing.

Bent Over Barbell Rows
No sets / reps / duration specified
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Primary muscle group(s):
Lower Back, Middle Back / Lats
Secondary:
Abs, Biceps, Forearms, Upper Back & Lower Traps
  1. Set up a barbell on the floor and stand facing it with your legs slightly wider than shoulder width apart and your knees slightly bent.
  2. Bend forward at your waist and grip the barbell with an overhand grip.
  3. Keep your back straight and nearly parallel to the floor.
  4. Keep your head and neck straight. This is the start position.
  5. Without moving your torso, exhale and lift the barbell up towards you.
  6. Keep your elbows close in to your bodyand use your forearms to support the weight.
  7. At the top of the movement, hold for a count of one and sqyeeze your back muscles.
  8. Return to the start position inhaling as you do so.

If you suffer from lower back problems, this exercise is not recommended. Always keep your back straight throughout this exercise. This exercise can be performed using an underhand grip to engage the triceps also.

Primary muscle group(s):
Lower Back
Secondary:
Biceps, Shoulders, Upper Back & Lower Traps
  1. Connect a V-bar attachment to the low pulley on a cable station or cable rowing machine.
  2.  Sit down at the station and place your feet on the foot pads or crossbar provided, while keeping your knees slightly bent.
  3. Lean forward, keeping your back straight and grip the V-bar handles with both hands.
  4. Keeping your arms fully extended pull back until your torso is at a 90-degree angle from your legs.
  5. Your back should be slightly arched, with your chest should be pushed out. This is the start position.
  6. Keeping your torso stationary, pull the handles back towards you while squeezing your back muscles.
  7. Keep your arms close to your sides until your hands reach your abdomen. Exhale as you perform this movement.
  8. Hold for a count of one.
  9. Inhale as you return to the start position in a smooth movement.
  10. Repeat.

Do not swing or rock back and forth as you perform this exercise. Doing so can cause lower back injury. <strong></strong> You can perform this exercise using a straight bar instead of a V-Bar. You can use an underhand or overhand grip.

Primary muscle group(s):
Lower Back
Secondary:
Abs, Biceps
  1. Stand tall with a tight core and flat back. Hold a pair of dumbbells at your side with an overhand grip. Bend slightly at the knees as you push your hips back. Keep your chest and head up. Upper body should be almost parallel with the floor.
  2. With your elbows at a 60-degree angle, bring the dumbbells up. Pause when your upper arm is parallel with the floor. Contract the muscle then slowly return the dumbbells to the starting point.
Primary muscle group(s):
Middle Back / Lats
Secondary:
Abs, Biceps
  1. Begin the movement by stepping on to a resistance band with your feet at shoulder-width, toes pointed slightly out.
  2. Bend slightly at the knees and forward at the hips. Maintain a braced core and flat back throughout.
  3. Leading with your elbows, pull the handles of the resistance band back, bringing your shoulder blades closer together. Hold this contraction and slowly release to the starting position.
T-Bar Rows
No sets / reps / duration specified
Sets/Reps not set
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Primary muscle group(s):
Lower Back, Middle Back / Lats
Secondary:
Abs, Biceps, Forearms, Upper Back & Lower Traps
  1. Set up an Olympic (long) barbell with weight plates on one end only.
  2. Put the other end of the bar against a wall or something heavy so it can’t slide backwards.
  3. Straddle the bar with your knees slightly bent.
  4. Bend forward at the waist until your torso is nearly parallel to the floor.
  5. Grip the bar close to the weight plates with both hands, using a neutral grip. One hand in front  the other. This is the start position.
  6. Keeping your back straight and exhaling, pull the bar straight up by bending your elbows until the plates touch your chest.
  7. Hold and squeeze your back muscles.
  8. Return to the start position in a slow smooth movement to place emphasis on your lats. Inhale as you do so.
  9. Keep the bar from touching the floor.
  10. pause then repeat.

This exercise can be performed using a cable station's low pulley or T-bar row machine. You can use a stirrup or double handle cable attachment to lift the weight by looping it under the end of the bar.

Primary muscle group(s):
Lower Back, Middle Back / Lats
Secondary:
Abs, Biceps, Forearms, Upper Back & Lower Traps
  1. Set up a barbell on the floor and stand facing it with your legs slightly wider than shoulder width apart and your knees slightly bent.
  2. Bend forward at your waist and grip the barbell with an overhand grip.
  3. Keep your back straight and nearly parallel to the floor.
  4. Keep your head and neck straight. This is the start position.
  5. Without moving your torso, exhale and lift the barbell up towards you.
  6. Keep your elbows close in to your bodyand use your forearms to support the weight.
  7. At the top of the movement, hold for a count of one and sqyeeze your back muscles.
  8. Return to the start position inhaling as you do so.

If you suffer from lower back problems, this exercise is not recommended. Always keep your back straight throughout this exercise. This exercise can be performed using an underhand grip to engage the triceps also.

Primary muscle group(s):
Lower Back
Secondary:
Abs, Biceps
  1. Stand tall with a tight core and flat back. Hold a pair of dumbbells at your side with an overhand grip. Bend slightly at the knees as you push your hips back. Keep your chest and head up. Upper body should be almost parallel with the floor.
  2. With your elbows at a 60-degree angle, bring the dumbbells up. Pause when your upper arm is parallel with the floor. Contract the muscle then slowly return the dumbbells to the starting point.
Primary muscle group(s):
Middle Back / Lats
Secondary:
Abs, Biceps
  1. Begin the movement by stepping on to a resistance band with your feet at shoulder-width, toes pointed slightly out.
  2. Bend slightly at the knees and forward at the hips. Maintain a braced core and flat back throughout.
  3. Leading with your elbows, pull the handles of the resistance band back, bringing your shoulder blades closer together. Hold this contraction and slowly release to the starting position.
Close Grip Pullups
No sets / reps / duration specified
Sets/Reps not set
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Primary muscle group(s):
Lower Back
Secondary:
Biceps, Forearms, Upper Back & Lower Traps
  1. Step up to the bar and grasp it with your palms facing you and arms close together.
  2. Your arms should be fully extended.
  3. Cross your ankles and bend your knees,
  4. Pull your body up until your elbows are completely bent and close to your body, reaching your chin to the bar.
  5. Lower your body until your arms and legs are fully extended in the starting position.
Primary muscle group(s):
Middle Back / Lats
Secondary:
Biceps
  1. Sit at a Lat Pulldown machine and secure your legs underneath the padded surface. Select an appropriate weight on the stack. Reach up to grab the barbell, taking a close-grip. Your hands should be at or closer than shoulder-width.
  2. Tighten your core and keep your chest up as you pull the barbell down and towards your chest. Be sure to pull with your lat muscles.
  3. Once the bar is at your chest, slowly allow it to return to the starting position but don’t let the weight stack touch. Repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Lower Back, Upper Back & Lower Traps
Secondary:
Abs, Biceps, Shoulders
  1. Set the bar to your waist height.
  2. Lie on your back under the bar.
  3. Reach up and grip the bar with an overhand grip with both hands.
  4. Keeping your body straight,  pull yourself up towards the bar by pulling your elbows as far back as you can and trying to touch the bar with your chest.
  5. Hold and squeeze your arm and back muscles.
  6. Lower yourself back to the start position in a controlled motion.
  7. Repeat.

For this exercise, you can use a Smith machine bar, an Olympic bar on a rack or any other straight, sturdy bar set to the right height. The lower the bar is to the floor, the more intense it will be due to the starting angles of your arms.

Incline Barbell Bench Chest Press
No sets / reps / duration specified
Sets/Reps not set
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Primary muscle group(s):
Chest
Secondary:
Abs, Shoulders, Triceps
  1. Set up an incline bench in front of a weight rack, making sure you adjust the incline to a comfortable position. The back of the bench should be facing the weight stack.
  2. Sit on the bench placing your back firmly against the backrest.
  3. Using an overhand grip, grasp the bar with your hands spaced about twice your shoulder width apart.
  4. Lift the bar from the rack by pushing up with your chest muscles and hold it straight over your chest with your arms fully extended. This is the start position.
  5. As you inhale, lower the barbell slowly until it touches your upper chest.
  6. Hold for a count of one while squeezing your chest muscles.
  7. Return to the start position as you exhale, pushing the bar using your chest muscles. Hold for a count of one.
  8. Repeat.

If you are new at this exercise, you should use a spotter. If there is no-one available to spot for you, be conservative with the amount of weight you use. Do not let the bar drift too far forward. The bar to should touch down on your chest only. When performing this exercise, you should use a 2:1:1 count. That is a count of two on the downward movement. A count of one to hold and squeeze.a count of one for the upward movement.

Primary muscle group(s):
Chest
Secondary:
Abs, Shoulders, Triceps
  1. Set up a bench or stable elevated surface. Begin with both hands on the bench at shoulder-width or just outside of shoulder-width.
  2. Place your feet straight behind you while you tighten your abs and engage the hips. Your hips should not dip or elevate too high during the movement.
  3. Slowly lower yourself towards the bench. Once your upper arms are parallel with the floor, pause, and return to the starting position.
Primary muscle group(s):
Chest
Secondary:
Abs, Shoulders, Triceps
  1. Facing down, place yourself on the ground with your hands flat on the floor, directly below your shoulders.
  2. Place your feet on top of a bench or box. Only your toes and balls of your feet should be touching the floor.
  3. Maintain a flat back and tight core before lowering your chest towards the ground. Bend your elbows at a 60-degree angle until your chest is just above the ground. You should feel a stretch across your chest. Hold for a count of one.
  4. Push yourself back to the starting position by straightening your arms. Do not lock out your elbows.
  5. Repeat.
Inverted Rows
No sets / reps / duration specified
Sets/Reps not set
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Primary muscle group(s):
Lower Back, Upper Back & Lower Traps
Secondary:
Abs, Biceps, Shoulders
  1. Set the bar to your waist height.
  2. Lie on your back under the bar.
  3. Reach up and grip the bar with an overhand grip with both hands.
  4. Keeping your body straight,  pull yourself up towards the bar by pulling your elbows as far back as you can and trying to touch the bar with your chest.
  5. Hold and squeeze your arm and back muscles.
  6. Lower yourself back to the start position in a controlled motion.
  7. Repeat.

For this exercise, you can use a Smith machine bar, an Olympic bar on a rack or any other straight, sturdy bar set to the right height. The lower the bar is to the floor, the more intense it will be due to the starting angles of your arms.

Pull-ups
No sets / reps / duration specified
Sets/Reps not set
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Primary muscle group(s):
Lower Back, Upper Back & Lower Traps
Secondary:
Biceps, Forearms, Shoulders
  1. Standing under a pull-up bar, reach up and hold onto the bar with an overhand grip. Make sure your hands are about twice your shoulder width apart.
  2. Keep your arms straight and hang from the bar so that your arms are taking all of your weight.
  3. Keeping your body straight and not swinging your weight, pull your body up towards the bar by pulling your elbows down towards your torso at an angle.
  4. Continue lifting until your chest is nearly touching the bar. You should feel a “squeeze” at the base of your lats (about midway down your back and to the side) as they contract.
  5.  Once your lats have completely contracted at the top of the movement, slowly lower your body to the starting position.
  6. Repeat.

By using a wide grip, your lats are doing most of the lift, rather than your biceps. It doesn't matter if you keep your legs straight or bent at the knees with your feet crossed. The important thing is that you do not use your legs to assist in lifting your body weight. As your strength increases, you can add weight by using a weight belt.

Push-ups
No sets / reps / duration specified
Sets/Reps not set
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Primary muscle group(s):
Chest
Secondary:
Abs, Shoulders, Triceps
  1. Get into position by placing your hands flat on the floor, directly below your shoulders.
  2. Extend your legs out behind you, with only your toes and balls of your feet touching the floor.
  3. Hold your body up and keep your back straight by tightening your abdominal muscles.
  4. Your neck and head should be bent slightly back.
  5. Lower your chest towards the ground by bending your elbows until your chest is just above the ground or you feel a stretching of your chest and shoulders. Hold for a count of one.
  6. Press upwards from your chest and shoulders, straightening your arms as you return to the starting position. Hold for a count of one.
  7. Repeat.
Seated Barbell Military Press
No sets / reps / duration specified
Sets/Reps not set
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Primary muscle group(s):
Shoulders, Upper Back & Lower Traps
Secondary:
Abs, Triceps
  1. Set up a barbell on a weight rack, so that it is at the same height as your shoulders when seated.
  2. Position a flat bench with your back facing the barbell.
  3. Keeping your back straight, take the barbell from the rack using on overhand grip, with your hands wider than shoulder width apart. They should be wide enough that your elbows are bent at 90 degrees at the low position.
  4. Lift the bar up and slightly over your head by pushing up and locking your arms. This is the start position.
  5. Inhale and slowly lower the bar down to shoulder level in a straight line. Hold for a count ofone while squeezing your triceps and shoulder muscles.
  6. Exhale and push the bar back up to the start position.
  7. Repeat.

To lessen the stress on your rotator cuffs, you can use a spotter to hand you the barbell when starting this exercise. This exercise can be performed standing. However, for people who suffer lower back problems, it is better to perform the seated version. This exercise can be performed by lowering the bar behind your neck,however it's not recommended for people with shoulder problems as it hyper extends the rotator cuff.

Primary muscle group(s):
Shoulders
Secondary:
Abs, Glutes & Hip Flexors
  1. Hold a barbell with an overhand grip in a standing position. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart. Maintain a tight core and flat lower back throughout.
  2. Bring the barbell to shoulder height with your palms facing out. Begin by pushing the barbell straight overhead. Focus on contracting the shoulders while driving the glutes forward for stability.
  3. Once you reach the top, slowly bring the barbell to the starting position but do not allow it to rest on your shoulders. Immediately, move into the next repetition.
Primary muscle group(s):
Shoulders
Secondary:
Biceps, Forearms, Triceps
  • Keep a tight core and flat back as you remain seated in the shoulder press machine.
  • Look straight ahead as you hold on to the handles.
  • Slowly, press the handles up above your head.
  • Do not lock out your elbow.
  • Slowly, bring the handles back down but do not let the weight stack touch.
  • Repeat the movement.
Primary muscle group(s):
Shoulders
Secondary:
Chest, Triceps
  1. Sit on a bench/chair with your back straight and the dumbbells in a hammer grip so that the dumbbells run lengthways along the side of your face.
  2. Drive both weights, simultaneously upwards, until your reach a full overhead extension.  
  3. Carefully lower the dumbbells back down to the starting position, maintaining the hammer grip all the way through the movement.
  4. Be sure to keep your core strong and lower back connected to the bench/chair at all times.
Upright Barbell Rows
No sets / reps / duration specified
Sets/Reps not set
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Primary muscle group(s):
Shoulders
Secondary:
Abs, Neck & Upper Traps
  1. Stand with your back straight, holding a barbell with an overhand grip slightly less than shoulder width apart.
  2. The bar should be level with the tops of your thighs.
  3. Keep your arms extended with a slight bend at the elbows. This is the start position.
  4. Exhale and using the sides of your shoulders lift the bar.
  5. As you do so, raise your elbows up and out to the side.
  6. Keep the bar close to your body as you raise it.
  7. Continue  lifting the bar until it is just below your chin. Pause for a count of one.
  8. Return to the start position in a single smooth movement. Inhale as you do so.
  9. Repeat.

This exercise can be performed using a straight bar attached to a low pulley or using dumbbells.

Primary muscle group(s):
Shoulders
Secondary:
Abs, Upper Back & Lower Traps
  1. Attach a straight bar to the low pulley on the cable station.
  2. Stand facing the station with your feet shoulder width apart either side of the pulley.
  3. Grip the bar with an overhand grip, with your hands shoulder width apart and arms fully extended.
  4. Keep your shoulders back.
  5. Raise the bar straight up in one smooth movement, until it is just below your chin.
  6. Hold for a count of one while squeezing your biceps and forearms.
  7. Slowly lower to the start position and repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Shoulders
Secondary:
Abs, Biceps, Forearms, Upper Back & Lower Traps
  1. Holding a dumbbell in each hand,stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
  2. The dumbbells should be resting on your thighs with your palms facing in.
  3. Lift the dumbbells straight up in single smooth movement until they are just below your chin making sure to keep your shoulders back and your elbows out.
  4. At the top of the movement, flex or squeeze your biceps and forearms. Hold for a count of one.
  5. Return to the starting position slowly to keep tension on the muscles.
  6. Repeat.

This exercise can be performed using a barbell,EZ bar or a cable station with a straight bar or EZ bar attachment.

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