Seated Medium Grip Cable Row alternatives

Seated Medium Grip Cable Row is a compound back exercise. Its primary joint action is shoulder extension.

Target muscle
Back
Joint action
shoulder extension
Type
Compound
Equipment
Cable

12 alternatives, ranked

All share the joint action shoulder extension. Ranked the way the GainsLog app swaps exercises: same joint action first, then the same compound or isolation type.

Seated Medium Grip Cable Row alternatives
#Exercise
1Barbell Bent Over RowBarbell · Compound
2Chest Supported Close Grip T Bar RowMachine · Compound
3Chest Supported T Bar RowMachine · Compound
4ChinupBodyweight and home · Compound
5Close Grip T Bar RowMachine · Compound
6Dumbbell Bent Over RowDumbbells · Compound
7Neutral Grip PullupBodyweight and home · Compound
8Seal RowBarbell · Compound
9Single Arm Dumbbell RowDumbbells · Compound
10Smith RowSmith machine · Compound
11Smith Yates RowSmith machine · Compound
12Underhand EZ Bar Bent Over RowBarbell · Compound

Swapping Seated Medium Grip Cable Row mid-workout?

In the app, tap Swap on any exercise: GainsLog suggests alternatives ranked the same way (same joint action, then same type) and keeps a separate progression for each one.

Download on the App Store

How GainsLog picks a substitute

  1. 1

    Same joint action

    A substitute has to work your back through the same primary joint action as Seated Medium Grip Cable Row: shoulder extension. An exercise with a different joint action trains the muscle differently, so the app treats it as variety, not a swap.

  2. 2

    Same compound or isolation type

    Seated Medium Grip Cable Row is a compound lift, so other compound lifts rank above isolation moves.

  3. 3

    Spread across equipment

    Equipment doesn't change the ranking. The list only caps how many picks come from each type of equipment, so there is an option whether you train with barbells, dumbbells, cables, machines or your bodyweight.

Swap exercises mid-workout in GainsLog

Tap swap on any exercise and the app suggests alternatives with the same joint action, then keeps a separate progression for each one so your targets stay honest.

Download on the App Store

FAQ

What is the best alternative to Seated Medium Grip Cable Row?
Barbell Bent Over Row (Barbell) ranks first. It works your back through the same joint action, shoulder extension, and is a compound lift.
What can I do instead of Seated Medium Grip Cable Row at home?
Try Chinup, Dumbbell Bent Over Row, or Neutral Grip Pullup. They need only your bodyweight or a few free weights and use the same joint action.
Will swapping Seated Medium Grip Cable Row for an alternative slow my progress?
Not if the swap uses the same joint action and you keep pushing your sets close to failure. Log the new exercise separately and build its progression from your first session.

More back exercise alternatives