Exercise guide · Beginner · Compound

Resistance Band Seated Straight Back Row: How to Do It & Muscles Worked

The resistance band seated straight back row targets the upper back muscles and is performed seated on the floor with a resistance band looped around the feet. It emphasizes scapular retraction and upper back strength.

Primary muscles
Traps
Secondary muscles
Biceps , Shoulders
Equipment
Resistance Band
Level · type
Beginner · Compound
Demonstration of the resistance band seated straight back row
Front view: muscles worked by the resistance band seated straight back row. Primary: traps. Secondary: biceps and shoulders.
Back view: muscles worked by the resistance band seated straight back row. Primary: traps. Secondary: biceps and shoulders.
Primary Secondary

How to do the resistance band seated straight back row

  1. Step 1: Sit on the floor with your legs extended and loop the resistance band around your feet.
  2. Step 2: Hold the ends of the resistance band with your hands, palms facing each other.
  3. Step 3: Keep your back straight and lean slightly back, engaging your core.
  4. Step 4: Pull the resistance band towards your chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
  5. Step 5: Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly release the tension and return to the starting position.
  6. Step 6: Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Sets, reps and programming

Suggested sets, reps and rest for the resistance band seated straight back row 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.

Resistance Band Seated Straight Back Row alternatives

More exercises that train the traps as their main target:

More traps exercises

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Sources

  1. American College of Sports Medicine. Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41(3):687-708.
  2. Schoenfeld BJ, Grgic J, Ogborn D, Krieger JW. Strength and hypertrophy adaptations between low- vs. high-load resistance training. J Strength Cond Res. 2017;31(12):3508-3523.
  3. Schoenfeld BJ, Pope ZK, Benik FM, et al. Longer interset rest periods enhance muscle strength and hypertrophy in resistance-trained men. J Strength Cond Res. 2016;30(7):1805-1812.
  4. Grgic J, Schoenfeld BJ, Orazem J, Sabol F. Effects of resistance training performed to repetition failure or non-failure on muscular strength and hypertrophy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sport Health Sci. 2022;11(2):202-211.

Step-by-step instructions and demonstration media are from the ExerciseDB exercise dataset.

This guide is general fitness information, not medical advice. Stop if an exercise causes pain and speak to a doctor or physiotherapist about injuries or health conditions before starting a new programme.