ExercisesTriceps pushdown

Triceps pushdown

Face a high cable with a bar or rope, elbows tucked at your sides. Straighten your arms to push the handle down, squeeze your triceps, and return slowly without flaring your elbows.

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Two-panel demonstration of the triceps pushdown, showing the start and finish positions
Start and finish positions

How to do it

Face a high cable with a bar or rope, elbows tucked at your sides. Straighten your arms to push the handle down, squeeze your triceps, and return slowly without flaring your elbows.

Muscles worked

Front
Back
  • tricepsprimary

Hover a muscle to find it on the figure. Dark green is the primary mover, lighter green is supporting work.

Other options in this pattern

How many sets should you do?

That depends on your goal, your ability, and how many days you train. Answer three questions and the builder works out your sets and reps, plus a full week around them.

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Johnny Milaychev · Product manager and self-directed lifter, not a trainer or a clinician. Why that matters and where this guidance stops.
Reviewed 16 August 2026 · Exercise library v2.2