What Are The Benefits Of Bent-over Rows?

Weight-training exercises provide an opportunity to elevate fitness levels, contributing to improved health. By providing resistance for muscles to overcome, benefits such as increased muscle mass and bone health are realized. Specific exercises, such as bent-over rows, work several muscle groups, leading to improved muscular strength and endurance. When combined with cardio training and proper nutrition, a leaner, more toned physique is the result. Increased strength means a decreased risk of injury and illness.

Strength-training Benefits

With weight training, muscles exert force to overcome resistance with or without movement. Resistance can be in the form of free weights, weight machines, bodyweight or gravity. Bent-over rows utilize free weights and gravity as resistance with movement. Your body is bent forward, pulling a weighted barbell toward your torso while you are keeping your elbows close to your body and your back straight. Sets of six to 12 repetitions, performing each set to muscle failure, improves muscular strength and endurance. Your muscles, made up of individual muscle fibers, gain strength and size in as little as 16 workouts.

Muscles Targeted

As a compound exercise using free weights, the bent-over row works many muscle groups. The main muscle group targeted is your back, the latissimus dorsi and rhomboids. Pulling the weight higher to your chest works your upper-back muscles, while pulling the weight closer to your waist works your mid-back muscles. Assisting muscles are your biceps, shoulders and forearms. Additionally, your legs and core -- the abdominal and lower back muscles -- contract to stabilize, or keep your body in place, while performing the exercise. Increased strength in these muscles improves your posture and spine stability, reducing the risk for lower-back injuries.

Body Composition Benefits

Increased muscle mass and exercise contribute to increases in metabolism, the rate at which your body burns calories. When the amount of calories burned is greater than the amount of calories eaten, excess bodyweight and fat are reduced. Strength training will improve body composition, the comparison of muscle to body fat, resulting in improved muscle tone and a leaner appearance. Reducing excess body fat leads to a decreased risk of heart problems, diabetes, obesity and related illnesses.

Training Variables

Workouts can be targeted for more specific fitness goals. Using less weight for 12 to 15 repetitions results in smaller size gains and greater muscle endurance and definition. Using higher weights for six to 10 repetitions leads to larger size and strength gains. Adding higher amounts of cardio training and a stricter diet significantly reduces body fat.