The Complete Helms Row Guide | Form, Muscles Worked, and Benefits

Nov 14, 2023

Helms rows on Vimeo

The Complete Guide to the Helms Row: Muscles Worked, Proper Form, Variations & Benefits

The helms row is an excellent back exercise that targets your upper and middle back muscles.

This chest supported row allows you to really focus on contracting your back while avoiding stress on your lower back.

If you want to build a thick, strong back, the helms row is a must-add exercise to your back day routine.

In this complete guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the helms row:

What is the Helms Row?
Muscles Worked
Proper Form
Helms Row vs Pendlay Row
Benefits
Exercise Variations
Example Helms Row Workout

Let’s get started!

What Is the Helms Row?

The helms row is a chest supported barbell row variation created by strength coach Eric Helms.

This row exercise has you lying face down on an incline bench or other chest support with your feet firmly planted on the ground. You then row a barbell straight up from the floor by pulling your elbows back and contracting your back muscles.

The chest supported position reduces stress on the lower back while allowing you to focus on properly activating the muscles of your upper back. This makes it an excellent back exercise for bodybuilders and athletes.

The helms row works the muscles of the upper back including the lats, rhomboids, rear delts, traps, and biceps by pulling weight via a rowing motion while keeping the torso static.

It’s a great alternative to standing barbell or dumbbell rows that can be hard on the lower back for some lifters. The exercise is extremely isolated to the upper back musculature.

HELMS ROW | BASIC TUTORIAL

Muscles Worked

The helms row primarily targets muscles of the upper back:

Latissimus dorsi - The lats are the large, V-shaped muscles that make up the sides of your back. Rowing motions strongly activate the lats.
Rhomboids - The rhomboids connect your shoulder blades to your spine. Rowing works them isometrically.
Posterior deltoids - The rear delt aids shoulder extension and external rotation during rows.
Trapezius - Rowing uses the upper traps to elevate the scapulae.

Secondary muscles worked include:

Biceps - The biceps assist the lats in the rowing motion.
Forearms - Gripping the barbell strongly engages the forearm muscles.
Upper back - The smaller muscles of the upper back stabilize your spine during the movement.

Because you are supported by the bench, the helms row avoids placing significant stress on the erector spinae muscles of the lower back.

Proper Form and Technique

To perform the helms row with proper form:

�rechts - Lie face down on an incline bench set to 30-45 degrees. Press your chest firmly on the bench pad. 💪

🦶🦶 - Plant your feet about hip-width apart on the floor to stabilize yourself.

🧘‍♀️ - Keep your chest pressed against the bench pad throughout the set to avoid excessive arching of the lower back.

🤜🤛 - Grip a barbell with a shoulder-width, overhand grip. Raise your torso up slightly and lift the barbell off the floor to begin.

💪💪 - Keep your arms extended and let the barbell hang directly below your shoulders with your elbows straight.

🔙🔜 - Initiate the row by pulling your elbows back, squeezing your shoulder blades together as you lift the barbell. Contract your back muscles.

👆 - Row the barbell straight up towards your lower chest, keeping it close to your body throughout the movement.

🔽 - Slowly lower the barbell under control. Do not bounce the weight.

♻ - Repeat for reps without letting your hips sag or lower back arch up off the bench.

🧘‍♂️ - Keep your torso braced and maintain a neutral spine throughout. Do not round your back. 🙅‍♂️

Really focus on squeezing your shoulder blades together and pulling through your elbows rather than arms to fully engage your back muscles.

Use a controlled tempo and avoid using momentum to swing the weight.

The Bent-Over Barbell Row

Helms Row vs. Pendlay Row

The helms row and pendlay row are two popular barbell row variations. While similar, there are some key differences:

Body position - The helms row is performed lying face down on a bench while the pendlay row is done standing bent over at the hips.

Back support - The bench supports your torso during the helms row while your lower back must support the load during the pendlay row.

Range of motion - The pendlay row uses a larger range of motion bringing the bar to the lower chest. The helms row has a more limited range.

Muscles targeted - The supported helms row better isolates the upper back while the pendlay row involves more lower back, glutes, and hamstrings.

Difficulty - The pendlay row allows more weight to be lifted but is a more technically challenging exercise to perform well.

Pendlay Row Exercise Guide - TrainEatGain.com

In summary, the chest supported helms row places more focus on the upper back muscles while avoiding lower back stress.

The pendlay row uses a larger range of motion and challenges stabilization more. Select the variation that best matches your goals.

Benefits of the Helms Row

Adding the helms row to your back workout provides several key benefits:

Builds upper back strength - It targets the muscles of the upper back through a strong rowing motion with significant overload placed directly on the lats, traps, and rhomboids.

Improves posture - Strengthening your back muscles with rows can improve posture issues caused by hunching over a computer all day.

Works the back through a full range of motion - The chest support allows a greater range of motion compared to bent over barbell rows.

Reduces lower back strain - Placing your torso on a bench takes stress off the erectors and minimizes risk of tweaking your lower back.

More back focus - The helms row isolates the back muscles without other muscles limiting your strength on the row.

Allows heavier loads - The supported position helps stabilize the body so you can row heavier weight than a standing barbell row.

Works grip strength - Holding heavy loads engages your grip and forearms isometrically.

Add the helms row into your back workout if you want a challenging exercise that builds upper back strength or need a lower back friendly row variation.

It's especially effective paired with vertical pulling exercises like pull-ups or lat pulldowns.

Bent over barbell | row ripl fitness

Exercise Variations

There are a few different ways to perform the helms row:

Barbell helms row - The traditional version using a straight barbell as described above. Grip can be overhand or underhand.

Dumbbell helms row - Use dumbbells instead of a barbell for more range of motion. Keep palms neutral.

Wide grip helms row - Use a wider overhand grip to shift focus more to the lats and upper back.

Underhand grip row - An underhand (supinated) grip emphasizes the biceps more. Can use barbell or dumbbells.

Single arm helms row - Row one arm at a time to prevent side to side imbalance or provide unilateral work.

Experiment with grips, tempos, angles, and equipment (barbell, dumbbell, suspension trainer) to find the helms row variation that you enjoy most and that provides you with the best muscle activation.

helms row workout program ripl fitness

Helms Row Workout

Here is an example back workout that incorporates the helms row:

Pullups
4 sets x 6-10 reps
Barbell Helms Row
4 sets x 6-10 reps
Single Arm Dumbbell Row 3 sets x 10-12 reps per side
Lat Pulldown
3 sets x 10-12 reps
Seated Cable Row 3 sets x 12-15 reps

Do this workout 2 times per week with at least a day off in between sessions.

Perform 2-4 warm-up sets before your helms row work sets.

Progressively increase the weight each set to maximize strength and hypertrophy.

Really focus on proper rowing form, contracting your back, and squeezing your shoulder blades together on each rep.

Pair this workout with pushing exercises like bench press and shoulder press for balanced upper body development.

The Helms Row

Takeaway

The helms row is a phenomenal back exercise that lets you overload the muscles of your upper back safely thanks to the supported position.

It hits the lats, rhomboids, rear delts, and biceps through a strong rowing motion while avoiding lower back strain.

Use proper form, experiment with grips and variations, and add the helms row to your back workouts to build a thicker, wider back!

What’s your favorite row variation?

Let me know in the comments!

Personal training Fitness instructor helms row ripl fitness

From a Personal Trainer's Perspective

Back Exercise to Blast Your Wings 💥

Listen up, gym rats! 🐀

If you're looking to build some serious back muscle and impress the gains goblins,

I've got the complete guide on an exercise that'll have your lats spreading like wings. 🦇

Back Exercise to Blast Your Wings | Ripl fitness

The Helms Row Exercise - Not Just for Boat Captains

You've probably heard of bent-over rows and thought, "Been there, done that."

But the helms row is one back exercise that'll make you say, "Why didn't I start doing this sooner?!" 🤯

Instead of bending over parallel to the floor and risking a slipped disc, with the helms row you get to place your chest on a sweet incline bench.

No more struggling to keep your back straight - the bench does that for you! 🛋️

Muscles Worked with the Helms Row? All of 'Em! 💪 | Ripl fitness

Muscles Worked with the Helms Row? All of 'Em! 💪

Unlike regular back rows where your puny arm muscles limit the weight, the helms row allows you to really load up that barbell and target all the major muscles of the back:

Lats (the wings you've been dreaming of)
Rear delts (for that 3D look)
Traps (to be Trapper Keeper jacked)
Rhomboids (because you want that X-shaped back)
And more!

This exercise is simple yet so effective at hitting a wide range of muscles, making it an excellent accessory exercise or even a main back builder.

How to Helms Row Like a Pro 😎 | Ripl fitness

How to Helms Row Like a Pro 😎

The helms row exercise is dead simple: Lie chest-down on an incline bench, grip a barbell from your mid-foot position, and row that sucker straight to your lower chest while squeezing those wings!

You'll avoid any other standing barbell row shenanigans that could wreck your lower back. Your core muscles can chill while you sculpt that fresh butler's back. 💆‍♂️

Using a barbell instead of dumbbells allows you to really overload those back muscles. Add this beast to the start of your next back or pull workout and get ready for some insane lat growth!

The helms row is a great exercise for building overall back thickness and size. Whether you use it as a main lift or an accessory after heavy barbell rows and pullups, you'll be feeling that burn from your delts all the way to your spike traps.

🔥So ditch the seated row machine and add some helms rows to your program, broski! Your back will be looking swole in no time. 💯

Question and Answers helms row ripl fitness

Helms Row FAQ

What are Some Helms Row Alternatives?

Some alternatives to the helms row are the t-bar row, seal row, and any chest-supported row machine.

You can also do dumbbell row variations. Experiment to find the best row for your goals and available equipment.

The pendlay row is a common row alternative that is performed standing with a barbell.

Cable rows and dumbbell rows are other excellent row exercise alternatives. Choose upright vs lying rows based on your goals.

What Are Helms Row Benefits?

Benefits of the helms row include building upper back strength, improving posture, allowing a greater range of motion, reducing lower back strain, isolating the back muscles more, and enabling heavier loads to be rowed.

Is There A Helms Row Variation?

There are several row variations including wide grip, underhand grip, single arm, dumbbell, cable, and machine rows.

Vary your grip and equipment occasionally to work the back from different angles.

How To Use the Helms Row?

Use the helms row as a primary back exercise on your back day or pull workout.

It can replace barbell rows if you have lower back issues.

The helms row is a great addition for a thicker upper back!

What Back Muscle Does The Helms Row Work?

The helms row primarily targets the latissimus dorsi, rhomboids, rear delts, and traps.

Secondarily it works the biceps, forearms, and smaller upper back muscles like the erector spinae.

Can I Use A Dumbbell To Do The Helms Row?

You can do the helms row with dumbbells instead of a barbell.

This allows a greater range of motion but can be harder to stabilize heavier dumbbells.

Adjustable dumbbells are very convenient for this exercise.

Does The Helms Row Require A Barbell?

The helms row is traditionally performed with dumbbellms. Use a shoulder width overhand or underhand grip.

Take advantage of the supported position to row heavier loads with good form.

Is The Helms Row Different Than A Barbell Row?

The helms row allows you to row heavier loads with better form than a traditional standing barbell row where the lower back is more involved.

It isolates the upper back muscles effectively.

Will The Row Exercise Build A Stronger Back?

Rows are a key back exercise to include in your routine along with vertical pulls like pulldowns. Horizontal rows are vital for width and posture.

Do both chest supported rows like the helms row and upright rows like pendlay rows.

How Is a Helms Row Different Than A Dumbbell Row?

Dumbbell rows involve bracing the core more. But dumbbells allow a greater range of motion.

Do dumbbell rows in addition to barbell rows for variation.

How Do You Perform the Helms Row?

To perform it, lie on an incline bench, plant your feet firmly, grip a barbell just outside shoulder width, pull your elbows back squeezing your shoulder blades as you row the bar up towards your lower chest.

How Do You Perform The Cable Row?

Cable rows allow constant tension but less load compared to barbell rows. Use both in your routine for comprehensive back development.

Opt for a close, shoulder width grip.

For More Training Advice + Diet and Lifestyle visit us Combat Creatine

PS: Make sure you check out the rest of our Training Guides:

The Complete Helms Row Guide | Form, Muscles Worked, and Benefits

The Complete Guide to the Helms Row: Muscles Worked, Proper Form, Variations & Benefits

What Is the Helms Row?

Muscles Worked

Proper Form and Technique

Helms Row vs. Pendlay Row

Benefits of the Helms Row

Exercise Variations

Helms Row Workout

Takeaway

From a Personal Trainer's Perspective

Back Exercise to Blast Your Wings 💥

The Helms Row Exercise - Not Just for Boat Captains

Muscles Worked with the Helms Row? All of 'Em! 💪

How to Helms Row Like a Pro 😎

Helms Row FAQ

What are Some Helms Row Alternatives?

What Are Helms Row Benefits?

Is There A Helms Row Variation?

How To Use the Helms Row?

What Back Muscle Does The Helms Row Work?

Can I Use A Dumbbell To Do The Helms Row?

Does The Helms Row Require A Barbell?

Is The Helms Row Different Than A Barbell Row?

Will The Row Exercise Build A Stronger Back?

How Is a Helms Row Different Than A Dumbbell Row?

How Do You Perform the Helms Row?

How Do You Perform The Cable Row?

For More Training Advice + Diet and Lifestyle visit us Combat Creatine

Creatine

Triceps

Biceps

Chest

Back

Shoulders

Legs

Glutes

Nutrition

Fitness

Lifestyle

Supplements

Popular Posts

Women Should Take Creatine: Top 10 Reasons | Creatine For Women

Does Creatine Break a Fast During Intermittent Fasting?

How Does Creatine Work: The Ultimate Guide to Muscle Growth and Strength

Creatine Supplements Ultimate Guide: The Benefits of Creatine Monohydrate

Creatine HCL vs Monohydrate: Which is Better for Your Fitness Goals?

Creatine Powder Vs. Pills: Which Is The Better Option?

Creatine Monohydrate Gummies Essential Guide

Does Planet Fitness Have a Sauna or Steam Room or Hot Tub?

14 Common Chest Expander Exercises