Standing at a Smith machine with the bar at the thighs in an overhand grip about shoulder-width, the elbows lead the bar up the rails to the lower chest, stopping at shoulder height: the upright row on a guided bar, which needs less steadying than a free one, as measured in presses and squats.
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Lateral raise family
Smith machine upright row
Harder option
These tiers compare demands within this family, not universal safety or a mandatory sequence. Load, range, balance and your circumstances can change difficulty. Choose deliberately; pain does not select a progression.
Standing at a Smith machine with the bar at the thighs in an overhand grip about shoulder-width, the elbows lead the bar up the rails to the lower chest, stopping at shoulder height: the upright row on a guided bar, which needs less steadying than a free one, as measured in presses and squats.
DemandMedium
Equipment requiredStrength machine
Muscle focusShoulders · Back · Biceps
The figure gets into position, then repeats the movement. Technical checks passed; qualified exercise review is pending.
Watch this variation on the 3D figure above: it gets into position, then repeats the movement.
Source-researched guide. Clinical review is pending.
How to move
Stand close to a Smith machine, the bar at the thighs in an overhand grip about shoulder-width, the hands a foot or more apart.
Unhook the bar and lead with the elbows to draw it straight up the rails to the lower chest, stopping when the elbows reach shoulder height.
Lower it slowly, and hook it back on the rails when done.
Form cues
The elbows stay above the hands.
Don't pull the bar to the chin.
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.
Keep the hands at least a foot apart and stop when the elbows reach shoulder height: rows taken higher were linked to shoulder impingement. Leave it out with shoulder pain. 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.
Unlicense · Free Exercise DB contributors; derived from wrkout/exercises.json. Text import; no photographs or media. · Revision f00c92c7dcf1216a928a52c3706c7ce8e2f71ed5