With isolation exercises like biceps curls, it is pretty apparent what muscles you are working, but for other resistance training exercises, multiple muscle groups are worked at the same time, and it can become less clear which muscle groups are being strengthened. For example, a common question is: “What muscles do lateral raises work?” How … Read more

One of the benefits of forward raises is that this shoulder exercise can be performed with different types of resistance, including dumbbells, cables, resistance bands, kettlebells, among others.  But, precisely what muscles do front raises work? In this front raise muscles worked exercise guide, we will explain how to perform forward raises, and then we … Read more

If you’ve ever tried to perform a chin up, you are likely well aware that it is a highly challenging bodyweight exercise. Even many advanced or fit weightlifters and athletes struggle to do chin-ups correctly or with the full range of motion without using momentum. This leads many people to ask: “What muscles do chin … Read more

Most people would love to have impressive biceps muscles that pop when they flex their arms or even that look well-defined and sculpted when they are walking around relaxed and sporting a sleeveless shirt. Although almost everyone is familiar with regular biceps curls with dumbbells, reverse curls are a little more esoteric and often unfamiliar … Read more

While many people focus on big glute exercises and compound glute exercises like deadlifts, step-ups, squats, split squats, lunges, and hip thrusts, there are also benefits of doing isolation exercises for the glute muscles, including exercises like donkey kicks. But, does the list of “donkey kicks muscles worked” include anything other than the glutes? What … Read more

The lat pulldown is one of the most popular back exercises and a great alternative for anyone who is not yet strong enough to do pull-ups. But, what muscles does the lat pulldown work? Are there different muscles worked in lat pulldown variations?  For example, are the close grip lat pulldown muscles worked the same … Read more

The bench press is one of the three basic powerlifting exercises, and the only one of the three that targets the upper body muscles. Accordingly, the bench press gets a lot of attention, and rightfully so: it is a highly effective exercise for the pushing muscles such as the pectoralis major and minor of the … Read more