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Barbell Behind Back Forearm Curl

Beginner

An isolation exercise using a barbell held behind the body that targets forearm flexors to build grip strength and forearm size; effective for hypertrophy and endurance with minimal equipment.

About Exercise

Equipment

Barbell

Difficulty

2/5 • Beginner

Primary Muscle Groups

Forearms

Secondary Muscles

Biceps

Popularity Score

5

Goals

Hypertrophy
Strength
Endurance

Training Style

Bodybuilding

Setup Requirements

Requires Rack

Yes

Requires Bench

No

Requires Spotter

No

Space Needed

Small

Noise Level

Low

Muscle Breakdown

Forearms

10/10

Flexors

Biceps

3/10

Brachialis

Programming

Typical Rep Range

10-20 reps

Rest Between Sets

60-90 seconds

How to Perform

Stand facing away from a squat rack with feet shoulder-width apart. Grip the barbell behind your back with an overhand grip at shoulder width, unrack it, and let it hang at arm's length below your glutes with arms straight.

  1. Inhale and slowly extend your wrists to lower the barbell toward your fingertips, feeling a stretch in your forearms.
  2. Exhale and flex your wrists to curl the barbell upward, squeezing your forearms at the top.
  3. Pause briefly at the peak contraction.
  4. Repeat for desired reps, maintaining straight arms and stable posture.
  5. Rerack the barbell carefully after your set.

Coaching Tips

Form Cues

  • Keep arms straight and locked.
  • Isolate to wrists only.
  • Squeeze forearms at top.
  • Control the roll down.
  • Brace core for stability.

Breathing

Inhale during the lowering phase and exhale as you curl the barbell upward while bracing your core.

Tempo

3-1-2

Range of Motion

Extend wrists fully until the bar rolls to fingertips without hyperextension, then flex wrists to curl the bar as high as possible without arm movement.

Safety

Safety Notes

  • Start with light weight to master form.
  • Avoid if you have wrist pain or tendinitis.
  • Do not use false grip.
  • Keep movements controlled to prevent strain.
  • Ensure secure unracking and reracking.

Spotting

Not typically required; use rack safeties for heavier loads to avoid dropping the bar.

Common Mistakes

  • Using body momentum to swing the bar.
  • Bending elbows during curl.
  • Hyperextending wrists at bottom.
  • Gripping too loosely, risking drop.
  • Leaning forward excessively.

When to Avoid

  • Acute wrist pain
  • Wrist tendinitis
  • Recent wrist injury

Flexibility Needed

  • Adequate wrist flexion and extension range

Build Up First

  • Basic grip strength
  • Familiarity with barbell handling

Also known as

Behind-the-Back Barbell Wrist Curl, Behind Back Wrist Curl

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