EXERCISE GUIDE

Back Extension

The Back Extension is a beginner bodyweight hip-extension exercise that primarily trains the back and glutes, with the hamstrings assisting. It is useful for training the posterior chain through controlled hip extension.

Primary muscles
back, glutes
Secondary muscles
hamstrings
Equipment
bodyweight
Difficulty
beginner

TARGET AREA

Muscles worked

Primary muscles

back, glutes

Secondary muscles

hamstrings

THE MOVEMENT

How to perform

  1. Set the pad below the hip crease so the hips can hinge freely.
  2. Brace the torso and start from a neutral body position.
  3. Lower by hinging at the hips until the posterior chain is stretched.
  4. Extend the hips to return to neutral without hyperextending the lower back.

IRONYOU / CORE

Core cues

  • Set the pad so the hips can move freely instead of folding through the lower back.
  • Think about extending the hips and squeezing the glutes at the top.
  • Stop at a neutral torso position rather than hyperextending.

STAY SHARP

Common mistakes

  • Hyperextending the lower back at the top.
  • Rounding and extending mainly through the spine instead of the hips.
  • Using momentum to swing through the rep.

YOUR PROGRESS

Your strength

Use your best set to calculate your current IronYou rank and see what comes next.

STEP 1 OF 3

What are we ranking?

Search all 127 exercises or jump into a popular lift.

127 exercises
All exercisesTap one to continue

IRONYOU RANK SYSTEM

Standards

Numeric standards are not published

Your IronYou rank can be calculated for this exercise, but numeric public strength standards are not currently published.

FULL CALCULATOROpen the full Back Extension calculator

KEEP EXPLORING

Variations

  • Related variations: Deadlift, Romanian Deadlift, and Single-Leg Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift.
  • Choose the version that matches your equipment, joint comfort, and the movement you can repeat consistently.

EARLY ACCESS

Track Back Extension in IronYou.

Keep your last session, progress and next target with you when you train.