Triceps strength

Standing Bent-Over One-Arm Dumbbell Triceps Extension

A beginner isolation movement that trains the triceps with a dumbbell.

Force Type

Push

direction of effort

Difficulty

Beginner

training level

Variations

0

equipment swaps

Muscles

2

primary + secondary

The verdict

Standing Bent-Over One-Arm Dumbbell Triceps Extension has 6-step instructions, among the most thoroughly documented of the 71 triceps exercises PlainExercise catalogues.

Ranked against the 71 triceps exercises PlainExercise currently catalogues, not the full exercise-science literature.

Catalog lens

Two ways this record sits in the source corpus

These are placement measures for the documented record, not a score for exercise quality, safety, or suitability.

Instruction steps

#144 of 868

More thorough than most

Numbered source steps, ranked across every documented exercise.

Instruction text

#139 of 868

More thorough than most

A separate character-length placement prevents step count from standing in for explanatory detail.

How PlainExercise computes exercise placement

Standing Bent-Over One-Arm Dumbbell Triceps Extension vs every catalogued exercise by instruction-text length

Where this record's instruction-character count sits among all 873 Free Exercise DB exercises with instructions, not a rating of the movement itself.

946 139th of 873 higher than 734 of 873 exercises

All exercises, banded by instruction-text character count

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more exercises. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source Free Exercise DB · 2026-07-10

Standing Bent-Over One-Arm Dumbbell Triceps Extension is documented from the Free Exercise DB (CC0) extract, last ingested July 2026. Classification, muscle roles and instruction text are source facts; the placement and cohort measures on this page are computed by PlainExercise and are not a rating of the movement.

What the Standing Bent-Over One-Arm Dumbbell Triceps Extension Data Reveals · DEEP · PUSH/ISOLATION

Standing Bent-Over One-Arm Dumbbell Triceps Extension stands out on mechanic class: joint involvement separates this page from isolation peers.

Longer step lists usually mean finer setup cues, not a harder movement by themselves.

Across 71 catalogued triceps movements, the average instruction record is 744 characters and 4.7 steps; 58 of those (81.7%) clear the same ≥500-character rich bar used here. This page ranks #14 of 71 by instruction-character length (1.27× the cohort average).

Among the 123 exercises that also use a dumbbell, average instruction length is 790 characters; 31 of those peers are longer than this record. Equipment-matched peers are the honest comparison when you are choosing a substitute implement for the same pattern.

Other well-documented triceps movements (same ≥500-character bar):

Context matters: taxonomy (level, mechanic, force, musculature, equipment) does not account for individual biomechanics, joint history, or recovery. Common-mistake framing below is derived from classification fields, not case-specific coaching. Not medical or personal-training advice. Consult a physician or certified trainer before starting, especially with injuries, cardiovascular conditions, recent surgery, or pregnancy.

Standing Bent-Over One-Arm Dumbbell Triceps Extension catalog footprint

Among 71 exercises whose primary muscle is triceps, Standing Bent-Over One-Arm Dumbbell Triceps Extension ranks #18 by catalogued variation count. The upstream file attaches 2 images to this slug. See the step-count ranking for triceps for peer documentation depth.

Muscles worked

The Free Exercise DB classifies each muscle as primary or secondary. It does not measure activation, so we show involvement, not percentages.

Prime mover Triceps
Also worked (1)
shoulders

Source: Free Exercise DB primary/secondary muscle classification. Actual recruitment varies by load and form.

Intensity context

For reference, here is where common activities sit on the MET intensity scale. Standing Bent-Over One-Arm Dumbbell Triceps Extension does not have a measured MET in the source data, its intensity depends on the load and effort you use. Estimate calories for any activity with the calorie calculator.

MET Intensity Zones, Exercise Intensity Chart Horizontal bar chart showing how six common exercises map to four MET intensity zones: Light (1-3 MET), Moderate (3-6 MET), Vigorous (6-9 MET), and Very Vigorous (9+ MET). Walking at 3.5 MET falls in Moderate; Jump Rope at 12.3 MET reaches Very Vigorous. Light Moderate Vigorous Very Vigorous 0 3 6 9 12 15 MET (Metabolic Equivalent of Task) Walking 3.5 Cycling 6.8 Jogging 7 Swimming 9.8 Jump Rope 12.3 Light (0-3 MET) Moderate (3-6 MET) Vigorous (6-9 MET) Very Vigorous (9-+ MET)

MET values from the Compendium of Physical Activities (Ainsworth et al., 2011). A general reference scale, not a rating of this specific movement.

How to do it

  1. With a dumbbell in one hand and the palm facing your torso, bend your knees slightly and bring your torso forward, by bending at the waist, while keeping the back straight until it is almost parallel to the floor. Make sure that you keep the head up.
  2. The upper arm should be close to the torso and parallel to the floor while the forearm is pointing towards the floor as the hand holds the weight. Tip: There should be a 90-degree angle between the forearm and the upper arm. This is your starting position.
  3. Keeping the upper arms stationary, use the triceps to lift the weights as you exhale until the forearms are parallel to the floor and the whole arm is extended. Like many other arm exercises, only the forearm moves.
  4. After a second contraction at the top, slowly lower the dumbbell back to the starting position as you inhale.
  5. Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.
  6. Switch arms and repeat the exercise.

Common mistakes

  • Rushing through reps before the pattern is grooved - at this stage, a slow, controlled tempo (2-3s down, 1-2s up) on Standing Bent-Over One-Arm Dumbbell Triceps Extension teaches the nervous system the movement far faster than speed does.
  • Cutting the range of motion short - moving the triceps through its full safe range on Standing Bent-Over One-Arm Dumbbell Triceps Extension is what most reliably separates effective reps from wasted ones.
  • Using momentum instead of muscle, isolation movements like Standing Bent-Over One-Arm Dumbbell Triceps Extension reward strict form. If you're swinging the weight, it's too heavy.
  • Flaring elbows excessively on push movements, tucked elbows protect the shoulder joint and transfer more force into the target muscles.
  • Breathing out of sync with the lift on Standing Bent-Over One-Arm Dumbbell Triceps Extension - brace and inhale during the lowering phase, exhale on the exertion, especially important with a dumbbell where control matters most.

Who this is for

  • People new to resistance training who want to build a foundation in the movement pattern
  • People who want to train the Triceps and secondarily shoulders
  • People who have access to a dumbbell

Who this is NOT for

  • People hunting equipment swaps, this record has none to offer; browse the peer triceps exercises for alternate patterns instead.
  • Anyone with acute pain in the joints or muscles involved, pain is a stop signal, not a soreness signal
  • People with unresolved injuries in the loaded joints, seek clearance from a physical therapist first
  • Anyone with a recent surgery, cardiovascular limitation, or pregnancy complication without physician clearance

Progression path

Once Standing Bent-Over One-Arm Dumbbell Triceps Extension feels comfortable with your current load, progress by (a) adding reps until you can complete 12+ per set, (b) increasing resistance by 2.5-5%, (c) moving to harder variations such as single-limb or longer lever versions, and eventually (d) stepping up to intermediate-level movements that train the same muscle.

Safety notes · DUMBBELL · PUSH/ISOLATION · FLOOR

  • On PUSH/ISOLATION triceps work, warm up 5–10 minutes before loading Standing Bent-Over One-Arm Dumbbell Triceps Extension; keep first sets light until the path feels automatic.
  • Sharp or joint pain is a stop signal. Muscle soreness during sets is normal; pain is not.
  • Beginners on DUMBBELL gear: cut volume before cutting form, drop a set rather than rush reps.
  • General information only. Consult a physician or certified trainer before starting any new exercise program.

Curated workout appearances

Standing Bent-Over One-Arm Dumbbell Triceps Extension is not currently featured in one of the 186 curated workout routines on this site.

Nationwide exercises with similar documentation depth

Two Free Exercise DB peer sets for Standing Bent-Over One-Arm Dumbbell Triceps Extension, drawn across all muscles (not the triceps-only related list below). Each metric produces a different neighborhood.

Other exercises that target the Triceps.

See all Triceps exercises.

Using the standing bent-over one-arm dumbbell triceps extension

Three ways to put it to work.

  • Train the triceps 2–3 times a week with 48+ hours between hard sets; pair this with other triceps movements for balanced development. All triceps exercises
  • Match the load and rep range to your goal, strength, size, or endurance each call for a different scheme. Strength vs hypertrophy
  • As an isolation movement, use it to target the triceps directly after your compound lifts. Compound vs isolation

Form before load. If a movement causes sharp or joint pain, stop and substitute a safer alternative, this is general information, not medical or training advice.

Source: Free Exercise DB (CC0) open exercise catalogue, 2026.

Exercise composition and corpus terciles computed by PlainExercise from catalogued records; see the methodology page.

Disclaimer: General information only. Consult a physician or certified trainer before starting any new exercise program.

Data as of: July 2026 (last ingest from source)