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Cable pull-through

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Muscles worked

High load
Glutes · Maximus
Medium load
Hamstrings · Hip extension
Low load
Core and Lower back

Primary muscles

Secondary muscles

How to do it

Face away from a low pulley with the rope passed between the legs, and walk out until there is tension. Hinge at the hips with a flat back, letting the rope travel back between the legs, then stand tall by driving the hips forward and squeezing the glutes. The cable pulls backward rather than down, so it teaches the hinge with almost no load on the spine — which is exactly why it is the safest entry point to the RDL and deadlift. Do not lean back at the top.

Form cues

  • It is a hip hinge, not a squat
  • Finish with the glutes, not the lower back

Safety

Talk to a professional before this exercise if you have any of the following:

Lower back

This is general exercise reference, not medical advice. Stop and consult a qualified professional if an exercise causes pain, and never work through joint pain.

Harder variants