Posted by: neo2525

The triceps pushdown targets your triceps. Refrain from doing this exercise if you are suffering from lower back or elbow problems because this workout puts a lot of stress on those particular areas.

            To get started, set the pulley of the cable at the topmost setting and attach a straight or U-shaped bar. Grasp the bad with you palms facing down and have your hands about a thumbs distance from the center of the bar. You can stand either with your feet parallel or if you find it more comfortable, you can have one foot slightly in front of the other. Then bend your elbows so that your forearms are parallel to the floor and your elbows are alongside your waist. You can lean slightly forward at the hips, but keep your abdominals pulled in and your knees relaxed.

            To begin the exercise, push the bar straight down, keeping your elbows close to your sides. Then bend your arms to allow the bar to slowly rise until your arms are slightly above parallel to the ground. Continue this until you feel you have given you triceps a good workout.

            Make sure to push down smoothly, exerting the same amount of pressure with both hands so that both sides of the bar travel down evenly.  Don't lean forward or too heavily on the bar. Also don't allow your elbows to splay out to the sides, especially as you push down. Lastly, don't let your arms fly back up as you return the bar to the starting position. Do concentrate on controlling the bar because the resistance of the bar as you come back up helps a lot in strengthening you muscles.

            An easier form of the triceps pushdown is called the reverse grip pushdown. In this, turn your hands around and use an underhand grip. Since this version allows your biceps to assist your triceps a great deal, it will give u less of a result than you would get with the basic triceps pushdown. Or for a better workout, use the rope attachment and move your hands a few inches apart as you press the rope down. You may want less weight because it is significantly harder.

            Although you may not notice it, a lot of your daily activities involve your triceps. Including picking up heavy object and throwing things such as baseballs. It is very important to have strong triceps so that these activities are easier and are less likely to cause injury. It will also keep you feeling and looking fit.