Cable Deadlifts — start position
Start
Cable Deadlifts — end position
End

Legs / Beginner / Compound (multi-joint)

Cable Deadlifts

A cable exercise for the quads, with the forearms, glutes and hamstrings assisting.

At a glance

Primary
Quads
Secondary
Forearms & grip, Glutes, Hamstrings, Lower back (erectors)
Equipment
Cable station
Movement pattern
Hip hinge
Level
Beginner
Type
Legs, Compound (multi-joint)

Loads the lower back. Use a load you can control and skip it if it causes pain.

How to do it

  1. Move the cables to the bottom of the towers and select an appropriate weight. Stand directly in between the uprights.
  2. To begin, squat down be flexing your hips and knees until you can reach the handles.
  3. After grasping them, begin your ascent. Driving through your heels extend your hips and knees keeping your hands hanging at your side. Keep your head and chest up throughout the movement.
  4. After reaching a full standing position, Return to the starting position and repeat.

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Muscles worked

Neck (Front)Upper traps (Front)Front delts (Front)Side delts (Front)Chest (Front)Serratus anterior (Front)Biceps (Front)Forearms & grip — secondary (Front)Abs (Front)Obliques (Front)Hip flexors (Front)Quads — primary (Front)Adductors (Front)Shins (tibialis) (Front)Calves (Front)Outer shins (peroneals) (Front)Feet (arch & toes) (Front)Neck (Back)Upper traps (Back)Upper back (rhomboids, mid/lower traps) (Back)Rear delts (Back)Side delts (Back)Rotator cuff (Back)Lats (Back)Lower back (erectors) — secondary (Back)Triceps (Back)Forearms & grip — secondary (Back)Hip abductors (glute med) (Back)Glutes — secondary (Back)Hamstrings — secondary (Back)Adductors (Back)Calves (Back)
FrontBack
  • Primary: Quads
  • Secondary: Forearms & grip, Glutes, Hamstrings, Lower back (erectors)

Best for

How specific this exercise is to each movement.

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Photos and instructions: free-exercise-db (github.com/yuhonas/free-exercise-db), public domain.