Dumbbell Curl - Incline

Recommendations: 2-3 Sets, 8-12 Reps, 80 Wght

Beginner Biceps Forearms Anterior Shoulders Strength Dumbbell Incline Bench Pull Gym

Purpose: This exercise works primarily the biceps with the front (anterior) shoulders and forearms acting as secondary muscles.

Benefits: The exercise eliminates cheating to isolate the biceps. The incline makes it more difficult to curl the dumbbells.

Grab a dumbbell in each hand. Sit on the incline bench with your feet flat on the floor, your back against the back of the bench, and with the palms of the hands facing inward, and let them hang at your side. Your elbows should be close to your body. This is your starting position. While holding the upper arms stationary, curl the dumbbells forward and upward while contracting the biceps. Rotate your hands as they curl upward until the palms of your hands are facing forward. Exhale during this movement. Continue the movement until your biceps are fully contracted and the dumbbells are at shoulder level. Continue by moving the elbow slightly forward (about 1 inch) to ensure the long head of the biceps is fully involved (the long head of the biceps crosses the shoulder joint) while you squeeze the biceps. Slowly bring the dumbbells back to the starting position. Inhale during this movement. Repeat for the recommended number of repetitions.


The biceps muscle is a straight muscle with 2 heads. The long head crosses both the elbow and shoulder joints and bends the elbow and raises the arm forward at the shoulder. The short head of the biceps crosses the elbow joint and, in conjunction with the brachioradialis, supinates the hand.

Step 1

Sit on an incline bench, holding dumbbells in each hand, palms facing inward.

dumbbell-curl-incline-step-0

Grab a dumbbell in each hand. Sit on the incline bench with your feet flat on the floor, your back against the back of the bench, and with the palms of the hands facing inward, and let them hang at your side. Your elbows should be close to your body. This is your starting position.

Step 2

Curl the dumbbells towards your shoulder while rotating your palms to facing forward.

dumbbell-curl-incline-step-1

While holding the upper arms stationary, curl the dumbbells forward and upward while contracting the biceps. Rotate your hands as they curl upward until the palms of your hands are facing forward. Exhale during this movement. Continue the movement until your biceps are fully contracted and the dumbbells are at shoulder level. Continue by moving the elbow slightly forward (about 1 inch) to ensure the long head of the biceps is fully involved (the long head of the biceps crosses the shoulder joint) while you squeeze the biceps.

Step 3

Slowly bring the dumbbells back to the starting position.

dumbbell-curl-incline-step-2

Slowly bring the dumbbells back to the starting position. Inhale during this movement. Hold a dumbbell in each hand. Sit on the incline bench with your feet flat on the floor, your back against the back of the bench, and with the palms of the hands facing inward, and let them hang at your side. Your elbows should be close to your body.