A cable variation of the barbell curl can be employed to provide a slightly different stimulation to
the muscles of the anterior upper am. The effort-above-the-resistance relationship provides a different
accentuation of the anterior upper arm region in that it provides accentuation of the brachialis
and stimulates the lower region of the biceps brachii. The cable application allows for different contraction
from that of the free-weight. The cable variation of the barbell curl can provide for a strong
stimulus of the muscles of the anterior upper arm but light weight should be used, and strong concentration
must be employed in order to provide for optimum growth and development potential.

Considerations of
Concentric Phase
Breakdowns
Due to the location
of the plate-stack below
the waist and the resultant
effort/resistance
relationship there is a
greater pulling on the
region of the lower back.
As well, due to the effort/
resistance relationship,
there exists a requirement
to apply slower
speed-of-contraction
movement applications
during the raising of the
weight. Due to the low
position of the resistance
there is a greater tendency
to want to lean back
during the raising of the bar.
As the low position of the resistance exerts greater forces upon the lower
back, any arching-of-the-back action could easily induce an increased risk of lower back injury
compared to the free-weight (barbell) application where the effort and the resistance are in line.

Strong Tendency to Apply Forearms into Movement
There is also a strong tendency to apply the impetus of the movement with the forearms during
the concentric contraction. It is important to maintain the elbows down, back, and in position in order
to allow for the proper accentuation of the brachialis and the biceps brachii rather than the forearm
flexors to provide the onus of the lift. Strong concentration is essential in effort to ensure that
the neural-impulsing will be directed into the area of the brachialis and the biceps brachii rather than
in the area of the anterior upper forearms. Particularly susceptible to strain is the area of the ulna
where the bicep tendon attaches to the forearm.

Squeeze the Brachialis and the Biceps Brachii
It is important to squeeze the brachialis and the biceps brachii at the top of the lift in order to
derive the greatest benefit from the movement and to deter the natural tendency to allow the weight
to drop back down too quickly (almost immediately at the conclusion of the lift). There is a greater
cramping experienced during the cable application (if performed correctly) than is experienced in the
free-weight barbell curl exercise and the ability to train through the cramping sensation with proper
movement methodology
will determine the beneficial
effects of this
movement. Once again it
should be stressed that
the movement must be
performed with a slow
speed-of-contraction
movement application.

Significance of
Wrist-joint
Position
The trainee will be
hard-pressed to maintain
the desired wrist-joint
extension and even more
challenged to establish
and maintain wrist-joint
hyper-extension during the cable barbell curl exercise than is experienced during the free-weight version
of the standing barbell curl and strong concentration is required to maintain the desired wristjoint
position. It should be pointed out that the hyper-extended position of the wrists provides a major
deterrent against the pitfalls of allowing the movement to be executed with the emphasis directed
with the forearms. Thus, while more difficult to establish, and maintain, the hyper-extended position
of the wrist-joint will offer even greater reward in the cable barbell application than it would during
the execution of the free-weight barbell curl exercise.

Eccentric Phase Breakdowns
In addition, the pulling affects of the low position of the resistance also induce a breakdown in
form during the eccentric contraction phase of the movement as there is an increased tendency to
allow the weight to return to the starting position too quickly. Often the fast-returning plate-stack
pulls the body forward in an exaggerated bending action which results in a subsequent rocking motion
as a hip-thrusting action is employed in effort to add impetus to the following concentric contraction.
Also, exaggerated pulling actions can invoke a pulling action on the shoulder-joint resulting
in ligament and tendon strain as well as muscle pulls. It is essential to concentrate fully during the
eccentric phase of the movement in order to maintain proper exercise execution in effort to ensure
the safe, efficient application of this highly-effective lower biceps accentuator.

Summary of Correct Exercise Execution
- Assume the correct preparatory position by facing a low pulley station in a shoulder-width stance
with the feet pointed slightly outward. You will want to apply knee and hip-flexion and assume a
flat, rigid posture of the back.
The knee and hip-flexion should
be more pronounced than in the
free-weight barbell curl version
of the exercise because of the location
of the resistance below the
effort which places added stress
upon the lower back.
- The head should be held erect
with the chin up.
- You will want to make certain to
apply wrist-joint hyper-extension
in order to allow for proper accentuation
of the biceps brachii
and brachialis as the effort/
resistance relationship encourages
high activation of the
forearms which reduces the emphasis
upon the desired region of
the anterior upper arm.
- Slowly initiate the concentric contraction phase of the movement by utilizing strong neural- impulsing
into the muscles of the anterior upper arm in manner of applying elbow flexion to raise
the weight upward. You will need to concentrate fully in order to resist the temptation to lean
back during the movement application in effort to apply leverage to the lift.
- Slowly draw the weight to the desired finish-position with the bar raised to chin level. Remember
to make certain that the elbows have been maintained in the recommended down, back, and inclose
position.

Keys to the Lift
- Work with a weight that will allow for maximum control and will encourage strong neural- impulsing
into the muscles of the anterior upper arm in order to alleviate the emphasis on the forearms.
- Utilize wrist-joint hyper-extension in manner of providing optimum emphasis upon the brachialis
and biceps brachii muscles and to reduce the amount of emphasis that is exerted upon the forearms.
- Apply slow speed-of-contraction movement applications as the cable/plate-stack variation requires
slower contraction time in order to gamer maximum benefit from the movement. Particularly
helpful in providing maximum benefit is the utilization of slow, highly-concentrated eccentric
contractions.
- Squeeze the brachialis and the biceps brachii at the conclusion of the concentric contraction
phase in effort to ensure the effects of the movement are felt in the desired region of the anterior
upper arms and not in the forearms. It should be noted however that the resistance- below-the-
effort relationship associated with the low-pulley barbell curl variation will strongly encourage
the involvement of the forearms and the lower position of the anterior upper arms (brachialis).

Note that you may want to take advantage of the opportunity to apply accentuation on the upper
portion of the biceps brachii by assuming a slight leaning posture into the apparatus. The indirect
relationship of the effort and the resistance allows for a more readily-facilitated alteration in posture
that provides the chance to apply a different stimulation into the muscles. The forward position of
the body will allow the elbows to be brought back behind the body which will provide a unique angle-
of-application that will stress the upper portion of the biceps brachii. Such position of the elbows
is not readily available with the free-weight (barbell) applications. (You will not want to bring the elbows
too far back however as this could invoke strain upon the shoulder ligaments)

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