Summary
- Plate curl workouts are one of the most versatile exercises out there
- They help your arm muscles grow bigger and stronger if done properly
- There are several benefits and variations of this exercise
- They are a great way to spice things up when it comes to arm exercises.
Do you want to seriously spice up your bicep workouts? Throw the dumbbells for now – it's time for the big boy weights - plate bicep curls. Plate curls are a more targeted version of your conventional biceps. In fact, they're your gateway to those bulging biceps that get the guys and gals drooling!
Let's dive into the world of plate curls so you can hit your arm days with that added sizzle-snazzle.
Build a solid bicep routine with these 5 bicep curl exercises.
How To Do Plate Curl Workouts?
Step-by-step guide on doing plate bicep curls:
- Start with your legs shoulder-width apart.
- Make sure you're standing with your back neutral and upright.
- Grab a weight plate by its sides.
- Hold the plate against your thighs and in front of the hips.
- Make sure your core is engaged, shoulders retracted and your breathing is steady.
- Bend your elbows slowly bringing your curl plate up.
- Your wrists should be higher than your elbows.
- Hold the position for a few seconds and then slowly bring down the plate to the starting position.
Rep Range: 10 to 12 reps.
Get the best bicep pump with these 10 bicep exercises.
Alternative Way Of Doing Plate Curl Workouts
- Take the small weight plate, make sure it’s smaller, and hold it in one of the palms of the hands.
- Brace your core, retract your shoulder blades and hold the plate against your thighs with your arms extended.
- Place your arms on the side.
- Bring the arm with the weight plate up, keeping your wrist higher than your elbow.
- Pause in this position for a few seconds, and then bring your arm back down.
- Hold the plate with your other arm and repeat.
Rep Range: 10 to 12 reps or until failure.
Don't have access to the gym? Get those guns at home with these mass building bicep exercises.
*Pro Tip: Make sure you're geared up in the right gym t-shirts for you so your muscles get the support and mobility they need.
Muscles Worked
Plate curl workouts target specific muscle groups and come under the category of isolated exercise. Despite being an isolated workout, they still target many lower and upper arm muscles.
Here are the main muscles worked during plate curl workouts:
Brachialis
The brachialis is located beneath the bicep muscles and that’s why it’s not visible. Yet, it is responsible for upper arm strength and size and helps you pump your biceps making them look stronger and bigger. The brachialis muscle is also responsible for elbow joint flexion.
Add twist curls to your bicep routine for fully developed arms!
Biceps Brachii
Biceps brachii is basically your biceps, perhaps the most popular muscles of the human body. Bicep muscles are located on the upper arm and are responsible for flexing your elbow joints as well as the supination of your forearm.
The biceps brachii is an arm muscle with two heads. There are two separate sites and one insertion. Plate curl workouts target the long head, which located outside the biceps.
If you're isolating the long head, do incline dumbbell curls as well.
Brachioradialis
Brachioradialis is located in the lower arm and is a forearm muscle in the upper body that is also responsible for flexing your elbow joint. Brachioradialis is also responsible for the supination of forearms.
To grow your muscles bigger and stronger your brachioradialis has to be well-developed.
Learn how to do proper wrist curls for stronger forearms.
Benefits Of Doing Plate Curl Workouts
Plate curl workouts come with a lot of benefits that are great for your arms if you want them to grow bigger and stronger. Plate curls are part of resistance training.
According to a study, it acts like medicine for your body. Resistance training, whether with weights or resistance band workouts, helps prevent the onset of several physical ailments such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
Here are a few benefits we’ve listed for you:
Low Technicality
There is nothing more straightforward than plate curl workouts when it comes to arm exercises. The only thing you need is a weight plate.
These workouts are great for anyone who is a beginner and doesn’t have access to kettlebells, EZ bars, or dumbbells.
Incorporate this exercise into your arm workout routine.
Targets Multiple Muscles
Plate curls target several muscles at once. If you want stronger and bigger arms, exercises that only target your biceps are not enough.
You must do exercises that also target your brachioradialis and brachialis muscles. All muscles must be trained at the same time for your arm workout to be effective.
Add preacher curls to your bicep routine to get those explosive gains!
Grip Strength
Plate curls help by increasing your grip strength. For this exercise to be effective a strong grip is a must. Since many people are more familiar with using dumbbells or barbells, using a weight plate isn’t easy, and holding it with a proper grip can be challenging for some people.
Doing plate curls frequently improves your grip compared to other bicep workouts.
Learn how to do forearm workouts with dumbbells to improve your grip strength.
Different Exercise Variations
Here are some variations of plate curls that target similar primary muscles but with different forms and equipment.
Dumbbell Reverse Curl
Reverse curls workouts a great variation of standard plate curls. While doing this exercise make sure your wrists don’t droop when holding the dumbbell.
How To Do Dumbbell Reverse Curls
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and back straight.
- Hold the two dumbbells with overhand grip and keep your core engaged.
- Make sure your arms are by your side and as you exhale bring up the dumbbells towards your shoulders.
- Keep the movement slow and steady without engaging your back and lower body.
- Slowly bring down the dumbbells to the starting position.
Rep Range: 10 to 12 reps per set.
Incorporate dumbbell reverse curls into your back and biceps workout routine!
EZ Bar Reverse Curl
Curl bar workouts are excellent for your biceps. It can be done with different gym equipment but most people prefer doing them with EZ bars. EZ bar reverse curl is another effective variation of plate curls that can be done at home or the gym if you have an EZ bar.
How To Do EZ Bar Reverse Curl?- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold the EZ bar with an overhand grip.
- Keep your arms on the side and bring up the EZ bar to your shoulders.
- Avoid using your back and legs for momentum.
- Continue bringing the bar up towards your shoulders until you the bar is unable to curl any further.
- Hold the position for a few seconds and then bring the bar down to the starting position.
Rep Range: 10 to 12 reps per set.
Ladies, tone and sculpt your arms with these top 10 arm exercises!
Key Takeaways
Plate curl workouts might be old school, yet these are one of the most effective upper body workouts out there. They effectively target multiple bicep muscles helping you grow and shape your upper arms. Sometimes doing just standard dumbbell curls can be boring, not just for you but for your body as well.
Plate curls are a great way to give your muscles a bit of a jolt leading to the development of your biceps. Even so, if you don't have access to weights, you can always workout with makeshift equipment.
In fact, you can do these 4 chair workouts for stronger arms at home!
FAQs
Can you do curls with plates?
Yes, you can do curls with plates. Plate curl workouts can be done by standing in a neutral position. Hold a plate by your waist and slowly bring it up to your shoulders in a curl position. Stay there for a few seconds and then bring the plate back to the starting position.
What do plate curl workouts target?
Plate curl workouts target your biceps brachii, located in the front of your arms. They also target Brachialis, located in the front of your upper arms. This muscle is responsible for your elbow flexion. In addition, they engage your brachioradialis, a muscle situated in your arm and spans from your wrist to the elbow.
What curl is best for forearms?
Plate curl workouts are the best for your forearms because they make your muscles work harder making them grow bigger and stronger. You can also do reverse curls as they're a great exercise for developing your forearms and overall strength. In addition, you should also do hammer curls as they are excellent for targeting the forearms. With a neutral grip on hammer curls, you'll engage both forearms and the brachioradialis effectively.
Is it better to do plate curls standing or sitting?
It is better to do seated plate curls because it puts less strain on your lower back. They are also effective at targeting and isolating your bicep muscles. The seated position gives you more stability, helping you focus on your muscle engagement and contraction more than trying to maintain a good form.
