Reverse Curl - Bent Over Water Bottle

Recommendations: 2-3 Sets, 6-10 Reps

Beginner Biceps Forearms Shoulders Strength Water Bottle Pull Home

Purpose: This exercise works the biceps muscles but focuses also on the brachioradialis (a muscle that crosses the elbow joint and assists in rotating the forearm).

Benefits: This exercise is similar in effect to the Spider curl and does a good job of placing maximum tension on the biceps in the fully contracted position.

Stand, with your feet flat on the floor. Hold water bottles with your hands about shoulder-width apart and your palms facing down (overhand grip). Bend over with your feet about shoulder width apart. Let the bottles hang with your arms straight down. This is the starting position. Curl the bottles up to your chin. Your upper arms should remain stationary throughout the entire motion. Exhale during this movement. Slowly lower the bottles to the starting position. Inhale during this movement. Repeat for the required number of repetitions.


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

Step 1

Bend over, holding water bottles with the arms straight.

reverse-curl-bent-over-water-bottle-step-0

Stand, with your feet flat on the floor. Hold water bottles with your hands about shoulder-width apart and your palms facing down (overhand grip). Bend over with your feet about shoulder width apart. Let the bottles hang with your arms straight down. This is the starting position.

Step 2

Curl the bottles to your chin, keeping your upper arms stationary.

reverse-curl-bent-over-water-bottle-step-1

Curl the bottles up to your chin. Your upper arms should remain stationary throughout the entire motion. Exhale during this movement.

Step 3

Slowly lower the bottles to the starting position.

reverse-curl-bent-over-water-bottle-step-2

Slowly lower the bottles to the starting position. Inhale during this movement. Hold water bottles with your hands about shoulder-width apart and your palms facing down (overhand grip). Bend over with your feet about shoulder width apart. Let the bottles hang with your arms straight down.