Exercise guide · Intermediate · Compound

Dumbbell One Arm Pullover on Exercise Ball: How to Do It & Muscles Worked

The dumbbell one arm pullover on exercise ball is a chest exercise that also engages the triceps, latissimus dorsi, and rhomboids. It requires balance and core stability due to the use of the exercise ball, as well as unilateral strength and coordination.

Primary muscles
Chest
Secondary muscles
Triceps , Traps , Lats
Equipment
Dumbbell
Level · type
Intermediate · Compound
Demonstration of the dumbbell one arm pullover on exercise ball
Front view: muscles worked by the dumbbell one arm pullover on exercise ball. Primary: chest. Secondary: triceps, traps and lats.
Back view: muscles worked by the dumbbell one arm pullover on exercise ball. Primary: chest. Secondary: triceps, traps and lats.
Primary Secondary

How to do the dumbbell one arm pullover on exercise ball

  1. Step 1: Sit on an exercise ball with your feet flat on the ground and your knees bent at a 90-degree angle.
  2. Step 2: Hold a dumbbell with one hand and extend your arm straight up above your chest.
  3. Step 3: Slowly lower the dumbbell behind your head while keeping your arm straight.
  4. Step 4: Pause for a moment, then raise the dumbbell back to the starting position.
  5. Step 5: Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch arms.

Sets, reps and programming

Suggested sets, reps and rest for the dumbbell one arm pullover on exercise ball by training goal
Goal Sets Reps Rest Effort
Strength 3–5 3–6 3–5 min 1–3 reps in reserve
Muscle growth 3–4 6–12 2–3 min 1–2 reps in reserve
Muscular endurance 2–3 12–20 1–2 min 1–3 reps in reserve

Ranges follow the ACSM position stand on progression in resistance training. Muscle grows across a wide range of loads when sets end close to failure (Schoenfeld et al., 2017), longer rests between heavy sets support strength and size (Schoenfeld et al., 2016), and stopping a rep or two short of failure works about as well as training to failure (Grgic et al., 2022). Estimate your working weights with the strength calculators.

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