What Muscle Groups Are Targeted on the Rowing Machine? Which Body Parts Benefit the Most?

Indoor rowing for fitness and strength building

What muscles are we exercising when exercising on the rowing machine?

Depending on the sport you do, certain areas of the body will be worked harder than others, but what about when you row? Will you tone and refine your figure by rowing? Below is a list of the muscles and muscle groups strengthened and sculpted by rowing!

Rowing strengthens the upper limbs, including the shoulders, arms and forearms

• Shoulder muscles: These are all the muscles that link the arm to the rest of the body. They include the muscles of the rotator cuff (subscapularis, infraspinatus, lesser ring, supraspinatus) and the trapezius, deltoid, grand dentle andangular muscles. These muscles provide mobility for the arms and shoulders (rotation, elevation).
• The biceps: These muscles are located on the front of the arm and are surrounded by two joints (scapulohumeral, elbow). The biceps comprise two muscles(long biceps and short biceps) which help flex and rotate the arms.
• The triceps: Located on the inside of the arm, they comprise three muscles (the vastus lateralis, the vastus medialis and the long head of the triceps) which complement the flexor role of the biceps brachii. The triceps enable the forearm to be extended.

Rowing tones and works the trunk and pelvis

• The abdominal muscles : These are made up of several layers of muscle (rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, transverse) which have the function of flexing and rotating the trunk.

Rowing exercises the lower limbs (gluteal muscles, thighs and calves)

• Buttocks: Located at the intersection of the lower limbs and the trunk, the gluteal muscles(gluteus maximus, gluteus medius and gluteus minimus) are among the largest and most powerful muscles in the body. In particular, they provide mobility for the thigh and support for the pelvis.
• The quadriceps: These are located at the front of the thigh. The quadriceps are each made up of 4 muscles (the vastus femoris or rectus femoris, the vastus lateralis, the vastus medialis and the vastus intermedius). These muscles facilitate flexion of the thigh on the hip and extension of the leg on the thigh.
• The hamstring muscles: Located on the back of the thigh, there are four of these muscles (biceps femoris, semitendinosus and semimembranosus). They ensure flexion of the leg and extension of the thigh.
• Calf muscles: Also known as the sural triceps, the calf muscles are made up of 3 muscle groups, including the soleus and the gastrocnemius. These muscles help the foot to extend down the leg

IN SUMMARY:

As well as being an excellent cardio exercise, the rowing machine is a great way to tone your figure. Accessible even to overweight people, it works almost 80% of the body’s muscles. It works both the upper and lower body muscles, such as the shoulders, arms (biceps), abs, legs (thighs and calves) and buttocks.