Seated rope high row

Seated at a low pulley with a rope, the elbows flared, the rope pulls to the upper chest as the elbows go up and out: ACE's seated high back row, rated beginner, the trunk supported by sitting.

Row family

Seated rope high row

Easier option

Seated at a low pulley with a rope, the elbows flared, the rope pulls to the upper chest as the elbows go up and out: ACE's seated high back row, rated beginner, the trunk supported by sitting.

DemandEasy

Equipment requiredA cable machine

Muscle focusBack · Biceps · Shoulders

Gets into position, then repeats the movement. Technical checks passed; qualified exercise review is pending.

Watch it bigger, and flip through similar moves, in the studio.Open in the studio

Source-researched guide. Clinical review is pending.

How to move

Sit upright at a low pulley row, a rope held overhand, the arms long and level.
Pull the rope toward the upper chest, the elbows up and out to the sides.
Return slowly.

Form cues

Sit tall; don't rock back.
Squeeze the rear shoulders at the end.

Practice and cautions

No universal dose is assigned. Choose a manageable amount for your current capacity, leave room for controlled repetitions, and allow recovery. A clinician’s individual plan takes priority.

This is movement education, not an assessment or treatment prescription. Stop for sharp or increasing pain, dizziness, numbness or tingling; seek individual guidance for symptoms, injury or restrictions.

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Sources and review status

Sources support the educational description; they do not establish that this exercise is suitable for you.

ACE · Seated high back row (beginner) ↗
Free Exercise DB · community text ↗
Unlicense · Free Exercise DB contributors; derived from wrkout/exercises.json. Text import; no photographs or media. · Revision f00c92c7dcf1216a928a52c3706c7ce8e2f71ed5

No variation is labeled clinically validated.

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What it works

Muscles

Main: Back. Also: Biceps, Shoulders.

Equipment

A cable machine

Level

Beginner. See the easier and harder options above.

Similar moves

Chest-supported dumbbell row demonstrated on the 3D figure

3D demoChest-supported dumbbell rowBeginner · A dumbbell + A bench or box

Seated cable row demonstrated on the 3D figure

3D demoSeated cable rowBeginner · A cable machine

Machine row demonstrated on the 3D figure

3D demoMachine rowBeginner · Strength machine

Seated one-arm cable row demonstrated on the 3D figure

3D demoSeated one-arm cable rowBeginner · A cable machine

Dumbbell Incline Row demonstrated on the 3D figure

3D demoDumbbell Incline RowBeginner · A dumbbell + A bench or box

Incline ring row demonstrated on the 3D figure

3D demoIncline ring rowBeginner · Gymnastic rings

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Questions people ask

What muscles does the Seated rope high row work?

Mainly the back, with help from the biceps and shoulders.

What equipment do I need for the Seated rope high row?

A cable machine.

Is the Seated rope high row good for beginners?

It is graded beginner, so it suits most people starting out. When it feels easy, try the Supported single-arm dumbbell row.

How do I make the Seated rope high row harder?

Progress to the Supported single-arm dumbbell row, or add load, range or slower lowering once your form is solid.