Seated row machines work your back muscles and are a staple in most gyms. Not only are they a safe, controlled way to work on your lats, traps, and rhomboids painlessly, but they also do wonders for strengthening your posture and all the muscles that go into creating a solid upper body. Your Fitness Home The seated machine variation takes away the setup struggles and core engagement of free weight exercises like barbell rows, which can just be made to focus on isolating your back. Seated row machines are a must-have in the back workouts that come with both beginner-oriented and seasoned gym-goers out there.

seated row machines

What Muscles Get Trained With Seated Row Machine?

The Seated Row is a weight training machine that strengthens muscles in the upper back, It targets primarily the:

  • Latissimus Dorsi: Located on the sides of your lower back in a large V shape, these are primarily responsible for pulling exercises.
  • The rhomboids: These muscles are located between your shoulder blades and work to retract (pull back) and stabilize your shoulder blades.
  • Trapezius: Your traps run from your upper back to your neck, and they help maintain good neck and postural support.

Seated cable rows can also engage the biceps brachii muscle in your upper arms secondarily, which works with your other back muscles to help pull the weight towards you. (Also Read: Adductor Machine

Qualities Of A Seated Machine Back Row

What should you look for in a seated row machine? Let’s Explore the qualities that make this machine a perfect option for Workout!

  • Adjustable Seat Pad: This important feature makes it easier for users of all types and sizes to find a comfortable and safe workout position.
  • Adjustable Weight Stack: This allows room for progressive overload and to incrementally dial up the difficulty as you get stronger.
  • Thigh Pads: Holds all your weight so you can focus on not rounding your lower back too much.
  • Variety of Grip Positions: This provides a wide range of exercising options for the back muscle groups.
  • Solid Frame: To support you and the resistance levels you wish to work out at

How does a Vertical Seated Row Machine help? 

With the vertical seated row machine, we get several benefits:

  • Product Features Targets all Back Muscles: Isolates upper back muscle groups, including the lats, rhomboids, and traps.
  • Posture: It keeps all the muscles supporting your posture and prevents any hunching – all-named terms that have plagued desk workers for far too long.
  • Beginner-friendly and safe: The machine will stabilize you, perfect for complete beginners or those with lower back issues.
  • Adjustable: Depending on your stype, you can adjust the intensity for a more comfortable and energetic workout.

What Is a Lat Pulldown And Seated Row Machine? 

Both are designed to isolate the upper back muscles but in different ways.

  • Vertical pull and horizontal pull Movement Pattern: Lat Pulldown pulls weight down in a vertical plane vs Seated Row pulls weight towards your body in a horizontal plane.
  • Muscles Worked: Lat pulldowns work specifically the lats, whereas the seated row works more of the mid and lower back muscles including rhomboids and traps.
  • Form: lat pulldowns require more core stability due to the absence of a seat, whereas seated row machines encourage good form by design.

What Is Seated Row Machine Planet Fitness?

Planet FitnessBack seated row machines. It normally has adjustable settings in a weight stack and a chest pad for local comfort. You just sit down, adjust the pad height, and hold onto the handles – all like this. While keeping your core tight and in good posture, pull the handles towards your chest using your back. Now carefully re-extend your arms to unlock. (New blog: Gym Tank Tops).

Best Routine With A Seated Row Weight Machine

The weight you select should be one you can complete for 10-12 reps while seated rowing optimally. This should be done for 3 sets per workout. Perform the pull as the controlling part of your movement, leading with your back and keeping those elbows in close to the body. You can also grip wider or closer depending on the back muscles you are targeting. On the pull bring the weight in and breathe out, on the extend take your arms up and take a deep breath. As always form is essential to achieving the best results as well as to avoid injuries.

Conclusion

The seated row machine that couldn’t be missing from the gym, and the assistance it can offer in your quest to develop a dense upper back. It activates muscles such as the lats and rhomboids to pull the scapula back and down, effectively improving your posture over time (which can help ease chronic back pain). It offers adjustable features and a novice-friendly form, which makes it ideal for a range of fitness levels. The goal of the lat pulldown is somewhat aligned with that of the seated row, in that both exercises target muscles of the back, but the seated row works a wider range of back musculature using a horizontal pull pattern. In the end, you can use both machines as part of a back workout to have a well-developed, strong upper back.

FAQs

What are alternatives to seated row machines?

These are common back exercises such as dumbbell, barbell, inverted, cable, and landmine rows that target your upper-back muscles the same way except for grip and core stability.

Can you train thigh muscles with a seated row machine?

The seated row machine will put most of the tension on your back muscles so no. There is virtually no leg activation involved.

Can you train thigh muscles with a seated row machine?

Indirectly. While rows may involve a little rear-deltoid activation, they do very little to stimulate the entire shoulder. 

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