Shoulders elevate off the pad
Upper traps pull the arms up as the biceps fatigue, removing the fixed-pivot advantage.
Overactive muscles
Upper trapeziusAnterior deltoid
Corrective work
Foam RollUpper traps↗StretchSeated upper trap stretch↗Pull · Upper Body
Machine Bicep Curl (Preacher Style)
Coaching cues
- Adjust seat so armpits rest on the pad; upper arms draped forward
- Curl handles to shoulder height with fully supinated wrists
- The fixed arm position eliminates cheating — all work is bicep
- Lower slowly to full extension; resist the eccentric phase
Common faults 3
Wrists flex at the top
Forearm flexors assist at the peak, joint loads unnecessarily.
Overactive muscles
Wrist flexors
Corrective work
StretchWrist extensor stretch↗Partial range — not lowering to full extension
Athlete stops well above full elbow extension, skipping the crucial stretched position.
Overactive muscles
Biceps brachii (eccentrically stiff)
Corrective work
StretchOverhead biceps stretch↗Foam RollBiceps / forearm↗