Dumbbell One Arm Upright Row

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, holding a dumbbell in one hand, palm facing your body. Keep your abs engaged and slightly bend your knees. Pull the dumbbell up towards the side of your chest, leading with your elbow, and keeping it higher than your forearm. Pause for a moment, then slowly lower the dumbbell back down to the starting position. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch arms and repeat.

How to perform the Dumbbell One Arm Upright Row

  1. Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Dumbbell One Arm Upright Row using your dumbbell.
  2. Brace and execute. Brace your core, control the descent, and move through a full pain-free range of motion while emphasizing your deltoids.
  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 deltoids 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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