Key Takeaways
One of the most desired muscles, especially for beginners, is the double-headed arm muscle. This is no surprise, as most of us enjoy displaying the size of our double-headed arm muscles. The double-headed arm muscle consists of two heads, long and short, and is responsible for bending the arm at the elbow joint.
Forearm flexion with the bar standing
This is an exercise that is widely known by all men. It is usually the first exercise that people perform in a gym. Is that a mistake? Of course not. Flexing the forearms with the bar standing is the most frequently performed exercise for the biceps and one of the most effective. Thanks to the full range of motion, the muscles can be used optimally and a good amount of muscle mass can be built. Another advantage of this exercise is that it is easy to increase the weight. It is easier to add load to the bar than to increase the weight on the dumbbell by 2 or 2.5 kg. Anyone who has been training for a longer period of time can notice the differences between the trunk sizes and the ability to move. During the movements, it is important to focus on the length of the arm and the ability to move. One should concentrate on the weight and the weight of two kilograms.
Flexion of the forearms using dumbbells
Flexing the arms with dumbbells is another exercise that is commonly seen in the gym. Using dumbbells, the arms work unilaterally, which means independently of each other. Bending the forearms with dumbbells is an ideal exercise for those who have an irregularity between one arm and the other. Working with dumbbells can help balance these irregularities in size and strength of the muscles. It's important to remember to avoid flaring, or swinging the arms, during the concentric phase. The best way to illustrate this is in the following video. How can you avoid this technical error? Try to keep your elbows close to your chest and avoid sideways movements of the elbows. Also, don't use too much weight, as this can lead to technical errors. Of course, this doesn't mean that every repetition has to be perfect, but you should be careful not to oscillate too much. Performing so-called cheat curls, or oscillating movements, can affect the size and strength of the biceps, but you should be careful not to perform them at the beginning of the set. Oscillating repetitions should primarily be used to complete the set, not from the first repetition. Remember that oscillating repetitions are simply taking advantage of the momentum in a part of the motion and help reduce mechanical stress.
Exercises on the prayer table
All exercises performed on the prayer table are an excellent choice for bicep development. It is important to remember that the appearance of our arms is not the result of just one muscle. There are three basic elbow flexors: the biceps brachii muscle, which consists of two heads, the short and the long, the arm tendons, the brachialis muscle, and the arm-and-forearm radial muscle. These main arm muscles are involved in every flexion of the biceps, although some are more active than others. Therefore, it is important to vary the training in such a way that all flexors are equally involved, which will allow for optimal development of the entire arm. When performing flexion of the forearm on the prayer table with the wrists positioned in the lower position, we mainly work on the biceps brachii muscle. However, if we change the position to the hammer grip, that is, with the thumb pointing upwards, then the brachialis and brachioradialis muscles are worked more. When working in the overhead position, we focus very strongly on the muscles of the forearm. These small adjustments can make a big difference in the training of the arms. When performing flexion on the prayer table, it is important to work in the full range of motion and strongly feel the work of the biceps themselves. Another tip is not to try to squeeze the dumbbell with your hands as hard as possible, as this will cause the forearms to tire more quickly than the biceps. It is also worth paying attention to the position of the arm and elbow when setting up on the prayer table. If the arm is extended too far forward, the forearms will be used more, which is something to be avoided when training biceps.
Different Methods for Biceps
There are numerous exercises for the biceps. Some suggest training with maximum intensity, while others do not. It is worth trying out the methods that appear interesting and checking their effectiveness. Generally, each exercise involves bending the arms with weight. However, there are many variations, so it is advisable to be cautious and choose the right methods. Some fitness enthusiasts try to increase the strength of their biceps through heavy lifting. However, it is important to consider different techniques and find those that work best. Initially, it is recommended to focus on extending the time under tension (TUT) during the execution of bicep exercises and then increase the weight. If you train the biceps with full concentration, with a slow eccentric phase, in full tension, and with ideal movement control, your biceps will certainly grow. It is also worth exploring the topic of isometrics, for example by performing bicep curls with dumbbells and holding the forearms at full angle. This improves body awareness and is an investment in future workouts that allow for better control during bicep training. Be careful not to train too heavily as this can lead to injury. Instead, it is recommended to train at high tension with low weight to increase training efficiency. You can also try the dumbbell spider curls exercise, where you bend the forearms with dumbbells in a prone position on a bench. This exercise allows for maximum isolation of the biceps and helps build size and strength.