There’s a motion time period that Tim Anderson of Original Strength got here up with: good, higher, and greatest. Even when a motion is carried out poorly, it’s nonetheless “good” as a result of all motion beats sitting on the sofa. However the quantity of occasions I’ve seen lifters make again extension errors all through the years places Tim’s ethos to the check.
The again extension train, when carried out appropriately, targets the decrease again, glute, and hamstring muscle tissue by way of a wide range of movement, permitting for greater strength and hypertrophy. And It’s a extremely versatile train that may be loaded in a number of methods for added measurement and power.
The difficulty is that this train is both uncared for for much extra TikTok-worthy workout routines or simply rushed by way of sloppily. Right kind works “greatest” with the again extension.
Right here we’ll learn to do that superior train, what is required, and a few frequent again extension errors stopping you from getting the most effective out of it.
How To Do The Body weight Again Extension
- Safe your toes on the back-extension machine along with your hips above the padding.
- Cross your arms over your chest.
- Then preserve your chest up and shoulders down, and slowly decrease your higher physique till you are feeling an excellent stretch in your hamstrings.
- Take heed to not rounding your low again.
- Elevate utilizing your glutes and decrease again till your physique aligns along with your legs.
- Reset and repeat.
What’s Wanted for Good Type
There’s not loads to the again extension, and after watching a YouTube video or two, you, too, can rip some good reps on the Again Extension machine. It’s an train that’s simply progressed, regressed, and advantages all lifters. As a result of, you can not have sufficient decrease again and glute power.
- Setup is important for this train; this easy step journeys some lifters up. Make sure the heels are secured and your pelvis IS NOT on the pad.
- Impartial backbone all through the vary of movement as a result of for those who’re flexing and increasing your decrease again, you‘re not working the meant muscle tissue.
- Some thoracic (higher again) mobility is required to get your chest up and shoulders down to assist put you in a superb lifting posture.
- Go sluggish, not quick. Some workout routines are designed to be carried out shortly, however the Again Extension train will not be one among them. You wish to really feel the muscle tissue working.
4 Widespread Again Extension Errors
Though it’s a easy transfer, errors can nonetheless be made that take away from the effectiveness of this train. Listed below are 4 issues NOT to do when performing this wonderful train for the decrease again and glutes.

Synthetic Vary Of Movement:
With workout routines that focus on the decrease again and glutes, there’s a temptation to hyperextend the decrease again to get extra vary of movement. It is a huge no-no as a result of for those who preserve doing it, the decrease again will let you recognize in sure phrases that it’s not glad. While you really feel this extra within the decrease again than the glutes, it’s an indication you’re taking it too far.
Repair it: End the vary of movement with the glutes by giving them a superb squeeze by the point your strategy lockout. It will make sure you’re not taking it too far.
Too A lot Momentum:
The Again extension will not be a 1RM train however provides muscle-building quantity to the glutes and decrease again. It’s higher to carry out with management and really feel your glutes and hamstrings reasonably than utilizing momentum. Higher right here to concentrate on pressure and never velocity.
Repair it: It’s simple to say to decelerate, which it is best to, however performing the Again extension with tempo, say three seconds eccentric and concentric with a three-second glute squeeze (3033 tempo), will do the trick.

Understanding The Distinction Between The Hips And Again
Just like the bird dog exercise, some lifters have issue telling the distinction between hip and low again extension. Understanding tips on how to hinge on the hip joint reasonably than the lumbar backbone is important for performing this train effectively.
Repair it: Performing it with tempo is a good start line, and feeling the stretch in your hamstrings, not your again, is crucial right here. Understanding tips on how to hip hinge is crucial, too, and going again to the fundamentals could also be wanted when you have bother understanding the distinction between your hips and again.
Correct Setup:
The Again extension is less complicated to do along with your hips resting on the pad however much less efficient. The motion for this train occurs on the hip joint, and while you lock the hips in, the muscle-building advantages for the decrease again and glutes go bye-bye.
Repair it: Alter the padding to relaxation in your quads, not your pelvis.
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