Triceps Pushdown

How to do the Triceps Pushdown

1. Attach a straight or angled bar to a high pulley and grab with an overhand grip (palms facing down) at shoulder width.
2. Standing upright with the torso straight and a very small inclination forward, bring the upper arms close to your body and perpendicular to the floor. The forearms should be pointing up towards the pulley as they hold the bar. This is your starting position.
3. Using the triceps, bring the bar down until it touches the front of your thighs and the arms are fully extended perpendicular to the floor. The upper arms should always remain stationary next to your torso and only the forearms should move. Exhale as you perform this movement.
4. After a second hold at the contracted position, bring the bar slowly up to the starting point. Breathe in as you perform this step.
5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

Muscles worked

Role	Muscles
Primary	triceps
Equipment	cable machine
Difficulty	beginner
Type	isolation

No cable machine? Train the same muscles with these

Ordered by how likely you are to own the 6 options.

Body-Up Bodyweight Body Tricep Press Bodyweight Standing Towel Triceps Extension Bodyweight Band Skull Crusher Resistance Bands Speed Band Overhead Triceps Resistance Bands Bench Dips Bodyweight

Harder than the Triceps Pushdown

Bench Press with Chains expert · Barbell Reverse Band Bench Press intermediate · Barbell Pin Presses intermediate · Barbell

Superset the Triceps Pushdown with

Opposing biceps work — alternate sets without extra rest.

Cable Hammer Curls - Rope Attachment biceps Cable Preacher Curl biceps Lying Close-Grip Bar Curl On High Pulley biceps Reverse Cable Curl biceps

Common questions

What muscles does the Triceps Pushdown work?

The Triceps Pushdown primarily works the triceps. Band Skull Crusher, Body-Up, and Body Tricep Press train the same muscle, across 9 equipment types.

What equipment do you need for the Triceps Pushdown?

A Cable Machine. Without a cable machine, Body-Up, Body Tricep Press, and Standing Towel Triceps Extension train the same muscle, and 11 of the catalogue's options for this muscle need no equipment.

Is the Triceps Pushdown suitable for beginners?

Yes, the Triceps Pushdown is rated beginner. Bench Press with Chains, Reverse Band Bench Press, and Pin Presses are the progressions from here.

Where should the Triceps Pushdown go in a workout?

Late — the Triceps Pushdown is isolation work, so it follows your compounds. Supersetting it with Cable Hammer Curls - Rope Attachment and Cable Preacher Curl cuts session time without extra rest.

Similar exercises

Band Skull Crusher Resistance Bands Body-Up Bodyweight Body Tricep Press Bodyweight Cable Incline Triceps Extension Cable Machine Cable Lying Triceps Extension Cable Machine Cable One Arm Tricep Extension Cable Machine