What Muscles Does Rowing Machine Work?

Muscles that Benefit from Rowing Machine Workout

Legs

When rowing, you begin the motion by pushing off using your legs. Commonly referred to as the “catch” by rowers. This movement uses the three largest muscles in your body: hamstrings, quadriceps and gluteus maximus.

Midsection

As your legs repeatedly push up and down, the resistance is then transferred throughout your body. Specifically, to your arms and back. In order to prevent your lower back from suffering any long-term damage, your midsection muscles will begin to contract and acts as a shock absorber of sorts. This will help strengthen your core muscles such as your obliques, erector spinae, rectus abdominis and transverse abdominis.

Upper Back

Part of the workout routines has your arms pulling back and forth like clockwork. As you draw the handle bars towards you, your upper back and shoulders will do all the heavy lifting. Your trapezius rhomboids help pull your shoulders while your latissimus dorsi helps pull your upper arms back into place.

Arms

Your biceps are responsible for pulling the handles and bending your elbows. As you perform the rowing stroke, your triceps along with your anterior deltoids and chest muscles helps propel your arms forward, readying your body to perform another stroke.

Hips

In order to properly perform the rowing motion, your legs and back will also need some help from your hip flexor muscles. This helps keep the momentum of the rowing motion going without while also reducing the strain on your body. You hip flexor muscles can be found at the frontal part of your hips and is also known as the iliopsoas.

Those are the main muscles that benefit from using rowing machines. Now that you know which muscles are most active during this workout, let us dive deeper into this topic but discussing specific benefits of using this workout machine.

Other Rowing Machine Benefits

First off, let’s run down some of the benefits this machine has for the ordinary fitness buff. The rowing machine, as the name implies, simulates the action of rowing a boat. If you take a look at participants of Dragon Boat Rowing competition, you’ll see that they use every inch of their body during this activity. It might look strenuous but it’s actually considered a low impact workout, meaning it won’t put undue stress over specific parts of your body, namely the knees.

• It is a Great Aerobic Exercise

As it requires most major muscles to be active throughout the routine, the rowing machine is a great aerobic exercise that can also increase your overall cardio. Most rowing machine equipment has an adjustable resistance to give you full control of getting your target heart rate.

• Effective for Weight Loss

Using a rowing machine for an hour can effectively help you burn 600 calories. In fact, you could easily argue that rowing machines are far more effective than most gym equipment in the market today. You can check out the Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Rowing Machine, available in Amazon right now if you are looking for a high quality yet affordable rowing machine for home use.

• Amazing Upper and Lower Body Workout

As discussed earlier, we pointed out all the major muscles that greatly benefits from use of this machine. It helps improve major muscles such as quadriceps, obliques, biceps and triceps. Think of it as a safe and effective overall workout machine without the risk that high impact training brings with it.

• Low-Impact Cardio Workout

If you have trouble performing weight-bearing, high intensity exercises then the rowing machine is the perfect alternative. The motion uses in a rowing machine exercise is natural and puts minimal stress on your body. Of course, learning the proper form is essential as back injuries might occur if you improperly use this workout machine.

• User-friendly

Unlike other gym equipment that looks like a complicated maze to operate, rowing machines are quite simple to use effectively. Remember to have a trainer teach you proper rowing form in order to maximize the machine’s overall benefits. Rowing machines are so simple to use that even children can handle this amazing workout equipment.

Rowing machines can be purchased for home use. If you have trouble getting motivated in the gym then getting this machine for your home should help immensely. Put on your favorite music, turn on the TV or maybe have a workout buddy with you to help encourage you to go above and beyond your limits.

How to use a rowing machine

You just need to remember that proper form is vital when using this machine. To help you in this regard, check out the video below for a quick and easy tutorial on the do’s and don’ts of using a rowing machine: