The cable curl is the gym-machine version of biceps isolation — and like the cable lateral raise and cable triceps pressdown, it has one specific advantage over the dumbbell version that matters: constant tension throughout the rep. Dumbbells produce maximum tension when the forearm is parallel to the floor (mid-rep) and almost zero tension at … Read more
The resistance band curl is the band-based companion to the dumbbell biceps curl — and for many men over 50, it’s actually the better choice. Bands deliver smooth, variable resistance that’s gentler on the elbow and wrist tendons than dumbbells. They’re cheap, portable, and scale by simply changing your foot position on the band. And … Read more
The hammer curl is the more functional cousin of the standard biceps curl — and for many men over 50, the better choice. The neutral grip (palms facing in) shifts the work away from the biceps brachii and onto the brachialis (the muscle underneath the biceps) and the brachioradialis (the top of the forearm). It’s … Read more
The dumbbell biceps curl gets dismissed as “vanity exercise” more often than any other movement in the gym. That’s wrong for men over 50. The biceps is one of the muscles that loses strength fastest after 50 if not trained, and you use it every time you carry shopping, lift a suitcase, pick up a … Read more