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Exercise guide

Lying Cable Curl

How to do the Lying Cable Curl with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

IsolationCableIntermediatePull
Primary muscles

Biceps

Secondary

,

Equipment

Cable

Step by step

How to do the Lying Cable Curl

  1. 1

    Grab a straight bar or E-Z bar attachment that is attached to the low pulley with both hands, using an underhand (palms facing up) shoulder-width grip.

  2. 2

    Lie flat on your back on top of an exercise mat in front of the weight stack with your feet flat against the frame of the pulley machine and your legs straight.

  3. 3

    With your arms extended and your elbows close to your body slightly bend your arms. This will be your starting position.

  4. 4

    While keeping your upper arms stationary and the elbows close to your body, curl the bar up slowly toward your chest as you breathe out and you squeeze the biceps.

  5. 5

    After a second squeeze at the top of the movement, slowly return to the starting position.

  6. 6

    Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Lying Cable Curl set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap, so your biceps volume is visible at a glance, and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Related

More biceps exercises

FAQ

Lying Cable Curl: common questions

What muscles does the Lying Cable Curl work?

The Lying Cable Curl primarily works the Biceps.

Is the Lying Cable Curl suitable for beginners?

The Lying Cable Curl is an intermediate-level exercise. It's best once you've built a base of general strength and movement control, beginners can work up to it.

What equipment do I need for the Lying Cable Curl?

To do the Lying Cable Curl you'll need a cable machine.

Is the Lying Cable Curl a compound or isolation exercise?

The Lying Cable Curl is an isolation exercise, it targets the biceps through a single joint, which makes it useful for focused, targeted work.

How do I do the Lying Cable Curl with correct form?

Grab a straight bar or E-Z bar attachment that is attached to the low pulley with both hands, using an underhand (palms facing up) shoulder-width grip. Follow the full step-by-step above for the complete movement.

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