Standing with a barbell on the thighs in an overhand grip about shoulder-width, the elbows lead the bar up close to the body to the lower chest, stopping at shoulder height: the NSCA's progression puts the upright row after the lateral and front raises, and a wider grip works the deltoid more.
Loading movement options…
Lateral raise family
Upright barbell 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 with a barbell on the thighs in an overhand grip about shoulder-width, the elbows lead the bar up close to the body to the lower chest, stopping at shoulder height: the NSCA's progression puts the upright row after the lateral and front raises, and a wider grip works the deltoid more.
DemandMedium
Equipment requiredA barbell
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 with a barbell resting on the thighs in an overhand grip about shoulder-width, the hands a foot or more apart.
Lead with the elbows to draw the bar straight up close to the body to the lower chest, stopping when the elbows reach shoulder height.
Lower it slowly.
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