Bench dips primarily work your triceps — the muscles on the back of your upper arm. Your back is not involved much in the actual lifting, but you do need to keep your back straight for stability. If you are experiencing pain in your lower back, it could be due to improper form. If the pain persists despite adjusting your form, consult a doctor to rule out a medical problem.
Although various types of squats focus on your legs, this weightlifting technique also works every other muscle in your body, helping to ensure a full-body workout. Squat cycles are training techniques that help improve your s...
A bench squat is a weightlifting exercise that focuses primarily on the lower body. It uses more equipment than a standard squat, but is one of the variations of a standard squat. Use bench squats to sharpen your form, especial...
The Smith machine is a versatile piece of strength-training equipment. Use the Smith machine with a weight bench to strengthen your upper and lower body. Increase your safety during bench-press exercises by setting the machine ...
The wrist has multiple functions, including rotating the forearm, assisting with your grip and supporting your body weight on your hands. Weakness in the wrist structures can lead to pain and a weak grip, but strength exercises...
Although the body's natural tendency may be to hunch forward, the spine has a considerable amount of flex in the opposite direction. A whale bench, an arched back support used as a yoga aid, provides the opportunity to balance ...
Not only does it prevent you from having to exercise on the floor, but it also allows for greater range of movement in your working joints. Most exercises performed on an exercise bench target the muscles of your upper body. Co...
Featured in gym aerobics classes and on fitness DVDs, step benches can be used for cardiovascular exercise. Step bench exercises accommodate beginners and advanced exercisers alike with moves that range from simple to complex. ...
Individuals practice strength training by either lifting free weights or using strength training equipment. Whether you are seated or lying-down, free weight exercises benefit from the use of a weight bench.
Benches can be flat, inclined or declined; many are adjustable. Using an exercise bench allows you to exercise in the supine or rear-lying position. In the early 20th century, weightlifters did not use benches but instead perfo...
Dips also involve your chest muscles, the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor. If you don't have access to dip bars or aren't yet strong enough to do full dips on your own, bench dips also provide a vigorous workout for the t...
Situps and other bench exercises target the abdominal muscles and help strengthen your hip flexors. Each exercise helps you focus on different abdominal muscles. In addition to aesthetics, strengthening your abdominal muscles c...
The best of anything depends upon your personal interpretation. When searching for the best exercise bench, you may consider one the best based on the fact that you can store it underneath your bed. The best purchase for you ma...
Walk into a gym or fitness store and ask for an exercise bench and you might get a confused look. Ask for a standard weight bench, a situp decline bench or a step bench and you'll probably quickly guided in the right direction....
Although available in different configurations, a simple flat bench or incline bench can expand the number and types of abdominal and back exercises available to you. When working your abdomen and back muscles using a bench, an...
However, only a few exercises can be performed on a hyperextension bench. It is basically a core machine that targets the lower back, abdominals and glutes, although the hamstrings may also be worked.
According to MayoClinic.com, regular strength-training exercises such as squat lifts offer many benefits to weight lifters, such as reduced weight, improved coordination and the development of strong bones. While generally cons...
A weight bench is a long, flat training apparatus with a padded bench and durable steel frame underneath. Benches come in a heavy-duty style with upper supports to house a barbell or in a movable type without supports that is e...
Weider exercise benches can be used to target nearly every muscle in the upper body using compound free-weight exercises. These exercises allow you to target the chest, deltoids, triceps, back, biceps and core.
Incline bench abdominal exercises offer a challenging means of working and strengthening your abdominal muscles. If you are new to incline bench exercises, begin with the bench only slightly inclined. As your strength improves,...
Using only a bench, and maybe some dumbbells, you can get a full-body workout in less than 30 minutes. Even if you don't have access to an exercise bench, perform cardio and strength training exercises on a park bench or push s...
This tool has a padded upper support for placing your hips and a lower platform and support for placing your feet and legs. Exercises on the Roman bench focus on the core muscles. According to Mayo Clinic.com, strong core muscl...
The utility bench is less expensive, it takes up less space and is easier to maneuver. Since the barbell holders are not in the way you can also perform more exercises with a utility bench. However, if you are getting fatigued ...
This exercise primarily works the chest, but it also works a variety of other smaller muscle groups. It is a compound movement, involving muscles across the shoulder, elbow and wrist joints. Improving your form and gaining s...
The flat bench is meant to support your body, in particular your back, as you lift dumbbells or barbells in conventional flat bench exercises.
Benches are commonly used to work the pectorals, which are the chest muscles. The opposing muscles are found in the back and they consist of the latissimus dorsi, rhomboids and trapezius---all of which can be worked with the be...
Dumbbell bench exercises engage the stabilizing muscles of your joints and enable you to move through a full range of motion. Paul Chek of the Corrective High-Performance Exercise Kinesiology Institute believes that the over-us...
The ACSM also recommends doing eight to 12 repetitions of eight to 10 strength training exercises; a simple park bench is all you need to get a good start on meeting this recommendation, too.
These muscles function to help stabilize your spine and move your trunk and arms through various ranges of motion. With so many important responsibilities, your back muscles need work through resistance exercise. If you have a ...
It is not necessary for every weight trainee to perform muscle testing. If you weight-train for the purposes of improving your body image or for general fitness, there really is no reason for you to partake in muscle testing. H...
An ordinary step bench can double as a piece of exercise equipment. You can perform several muscle-toning exercises---with or without dumbbells---to tone and shape the major muscles of your upper and lower body. No fancy or exp...
A back extension bench is also known as a Roman chair. This piece of fitness equipment has a padded upper support and foot rests to brace your feet while performing exercises. This tool can be utilized to work multiple muscles ...
A weight bench is a useful tool for exercise because it allows for stabilization and a full range of motion for exercises. Contrary to lying or kneeling on the floor to exercise, the bench allows you to extend your limbs fully ...
Bench dips are a body-weight exercise that primarily works the triceps muscle group and also targets your pectoralis major (chest) and anterior deltoids (front of your shoulders). In fact, bench dips are such a good exercise, t...
Weight lifters use free-weight benches to perform the most popular weight lifting exercise, the bench press, as well as many other exercises. If you want to make your own weight workout bench, you can purchase one and then asse...
The best ones are adjustable, allowing you to raise or lower one end of the bench so you can do incline and decline exercises. Inclines and declines change the emphasis of exercises onto different muscle groups or di
One of the most popular ones is an exercise bench. These come in fixed or adjustable models, and they can be used by themselves or with other equipment. If you have the time and desire, you can work every part of your body. The...
Just like the adult counterpart, a child's exercise bench is designed to fortify chest, arm and leg muscles. As a fun fitness toy, children's exercise benches help build healthy exercise habits that can extend way into the fut...