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Shoulders exercise · dumbbell

Dumbbell One Arm Upright Row

The dumbbell one arm upright row is a dumbbell exercise that targets the shoulders (deltoids), with the traps and biceps assisting.

Animated demonstration of the dumbbell one arm upright row
Dumbbell One Arm Upright Row — demonstration
Target muscle
Delts
Also works
Traps, biceps
Equipment
Dumbbell
Body part
Shoulders

How to do the dumbbell one arm upright row

  1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a dumbbell in one hand with an overhand grip.
  2. Let the dumbbell hang at arm's length in front of your thighs, with your palm facing your body.
  3. Keeping your back straight and your core engaged, exhale and lift the dumbbell straight up towards your chin, leading with your elbow.
  4. Pause for a moment at the top, then inhale and slowly lower the dumbbell back down to the starting position.
  5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch to the other arm.

Sets and reps

For muscle growth, 3–4 sets of 8–12 reps with 60–90 seconds of rest is a proven starting point. For strength, use a heavier weight for 3–5 sets of 3–6 reps and rest 2–3 minutes. Add a little weight once you hit the top of your rep range on every set.

Muscles worked

The main muscle is the shoulders (deltoids). The traps and biceps work as secondary muscles. See all shoulder exercises or every dumbbell exercise.

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