Dumbbell Pullover

Lie across a bench with your upper back supported and hold one dumbbell above your chest with both hands. Keep a slight bend in the elbows and lower the weight in an arc behind your head until you feel a stretch through the chest and lats. Pull it back over the chest with control while keeping ribs down and hips steady.

Muscles worked

Primary
Secondary

Equipment

Dumbbell Pullover exercise demonstration

How to do it

  1. Lie across or along a bench with one dumbbell held over the chest.
  2. Keep a soft elbow bend and brace the ribs down.
  3. Lower the dumbbell behind the head in a controlled arc.
  4. Stop when the shoulders reach a comfortable stretch.
  5. Pull the dumbbell back over the chest without changing elbow angle.
  6. Keep the hips and rib cage quiet through the whole rep.

Watch for

  • Elbows bending and straightening like a triceps extension.
  • Low back arching as the weight moves behind the head.
  • Lowering past the shoulder range you can control.

Breathing

Inhale as you lower, exhale as you pull the dumbbell back over the chest.

Tip

Use a smaller range if your ribs lift or the front of the shoulder feels pinched.

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