Cable Upper Row

Stand facing a cable machine. Grab the handle with both hands, palms facing downwards. Pull the handle towards your upper chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together. Slowly release and repeat for the desired number of reps.

How to perform the Cable Upper Row

  1. Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Cable Upper Row using your cable.
  2. Brace and execute. Brace your core, control the descent, and move through a full pain-free range of motion while emphasizing your trapezius.
  3. Reset. Reverse the movement under control and reset between repetitions, keeping your form crisp on every rep.

Coaching cues

  • Move with intent — every rep should feel deliberate, not rushed.
  • Drive force through your trapezius rather than momentum.
  • Keep your breathing steady: exhale on the hard part, inhale on the reset.

Common mistakes

  • Using too much weight and losing positional control.
  • Cutting the range of motion short and missing the target muscle.
  • Letting your spine round or hyperextend instead of staying neutral.

Detailed cues, common mistakes, and demonstration video are available in the Fitly app.

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