Dumbbell Alternating Biceps Curl
oec:dumbbell-alternating-biceps-curl
A standing isolation exercise that curls one dumbbell at a time to build the elbow flexors with focused unilateral control.
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Also called: Alternating bicep curls, Alternating dumbbell curl, Dumbbell alternate bicep curl
How to do it
Setup
- Stand tall with feet hip-width apart and knees unlocked.
- Hold a dumbbell in each hand at your sides with arms fully extended and palms facing inward.
Movement
- Curl one dumbbell upward by flexing the elbow while keeping the upper arm pinned near your torso.
- Rotate your forearm into a supinated position as the dumbbell rises so your palm faces your shoulder at the top.
- Squeeze your bicep firmly at peak contraction without swinging your shoulder forward.
- Lower the dumbbell under control back to full extension, rotating your wrist back to neutral.
- Repeat the movement with the opposite arm to complete one alternating pair.
Breathing
Exhale while curling the dumbbell up; inhale as you lower it back to your side.
Cues
- Keep elbows tucked
- Turn pinky up at the top
- Control the descent
- No torso sway
Common faults
- Swinging the torso or using hip drive to lift the dumbbell.
- Brace the core, keep knees soft, and use a lighter weight to isolate the elbow flexors.
- Elbows drifting forward during the curl, turning it into front shoulder work.
- Keep the upper arms stationary against the ribs throughout the movement.
- Cutting the bottom range of motion short.
- Allow the working arm to straighten fully before starting the next rep.
Safety
- Avoid hyperextending the lower back while lifting heavy weights.
Muscles
Joints
- Elbow: Flexion, Extension
- Forearm: Supination, Pronation
- Shoulder: Isometric stabilization
Details
- Movement
- Elbow flexion isolation
- Modality
- Hypertrophy, Strength
- Mechanics
- isolation
- Force
- pull
- Laterality
- alternating
- Kinetic chain
- open
- Level
- beginner
- Equipment
- Dumbbell
- Record
- Repetitions and Load
- Load
- external, per implement
Related
- variation of Dumbbell Biceps Curl
- variation of Dumbbell Curl
- substitute for Alternating Dumbbell Curl
- substitute for Dumbbell Biceps Curl
- substitute for Dumbbell Curl
- substitute for Barbell Curl
Sources
- wger: Alternating bicep curls (CC-BY-SA-4.0)
This record: CC-BY-SA-4.0.