Exercise library · Forearms

How to Do Seated Palms-Down Barbell Wrist Curl

Step-by-step instructions, muscles worked and workouts that use the seated palms-down barbell wrist curl.

How to do it

1. Hold a barbell with both hands and your palms facing down; hands spaced about shoulder width.
2. Place your feet flat on the floor, at a distance that is slightly wider than shoulder width apart.
3. Lean forward and place your forearms on top of your upper thighs with your palms down. Tip: Make sure that the back of the wrists lay on top of your knees. This will be your starting position.
4. Lower the bar as far as possible while inhaling and keeping a tight grip.
5. Now curl bar up as high as possible while flexing the forearms and exhaling. Hold the contraction at the top for a second and Tip: Only the wrist should move.

Form tips

• Start light and own the movement before adding weight.
• Control the lowering phase — don't drop into it.
• Keep breathing; exhale on the hardest part.
• Stop if you feel sharp pain (different from muscle burn).

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Gear for this exercise

Barbell and plates setA proper home strength setup for squats and presses.See it on Amazon →Squat rack / power rackThe centre of a serious home gym.See it on Amazon →

Exercise photos and instructions: free-exercise-db (public domain). Animation made from the real start and end photos.