SHIFT Fit
Dumbbell bent over row
Dumbbell bent over row: written movement steps, equipment and example doses. General information to help you choose an appropriate starting point.

How to do it
- Hinge with soft knees and arms hanging.
- Pull weights towards lower ribs. Keep spine long. Lower the weights until your arms hang beneath your shoulders again.
- 2 sets × 5 reps; 75s rest between sets. Use light resistance or an easy supported setup. Practise the same controlled path on every repetition. Finish with at least 2 comfortable repetitions in reserve. Keep spine long. Count one complete outward-and-return movement as one repetition; for alternating limbs, each individual limb action counts once.
Equipment
- dumbbells
Example variations
The written steps above use one library example. These other doses are separate options, not instructions to complete every variation or progress automatically.
| Level | Example dose | Equipment |
|---|---|---|
| intermediate | 2 sets × 5 reps; 75s rest between sets. | dumbbells |
| intermediate | 2 sets × 8 reps; 75s rest between sets. | dumbbells |
| intermediate | 3 sets × 8 reps; 90s rest between sets. | dumbbells |
| intermediate | 2 sets × 12 reps; 90s rest between sets. | dumbbells |
| intermediate | 2 sets × 6 reps; 90s rest between sets. | dumbbells |
| intermediate | 1 set × 8 reps. | dumbbells |
Safety and comfort
- Stop for pain, dizziness or unusual breathlessness; do not force range or train to failure. Use the listed support and comfortable range; seek individual advice for a current injury or an uncertain restriction.
- Rounding or swinging the torso; shrugging the shoulders; pulling the elbow far behind the body. Exercise check: Keep spine long.
General movement information, not an individual exercise prescription. Independent trainer or clinical review is not claimed. Use appropriate support and seek individual advice for an injury or restriction.
