Cable Kneeling One Arm Lat Pulldown - How to Perform, Muscles, Variants | SatisFIT Skip to main content

Cable Kneeling One Arm Lat Pulldown

Step by step instructions, muscle activation and variants for the Cable Kneeling One Arm Lat Pulldown.

MediumMiddle back

About this exercise

The Cable Kneeling One Arm Lat Pulldown is a unilateral back exercise performed kneeling beneath a high cable pulley, pulling the handle down toward the hip in a single-arm lat-dominant movement. Kneeling eliminates momentum from the lower body and forces the core to stabilize, while the single-arm nature allows each side of the back to be trained independently for balanced development.

How to Perform

  • Attach a single D-handle to the high pulley of a cable machine and kneel directly beneath it
  • Grasp the handle with one hand using an overhand grip, arm fully extended overhead
  • Brace your core and keep your torso upright without leaning excessively to either side
  • Pull the handle down and toward your hip by driving your elbow down and back
  • Squeeze your lat at the bottom of the movement, keeping the shoulder blade depressed
  • Slowly extend your arm back overhead to the starting position under control
  • Complete all reps on one side before switching to the other arm

Muscle Activation

Primary
Middle back
Secondary
BicepsRear shouldersOuter forearmTrapezius

Common Mistakes

Common mistakes content is coming soon.

About the Cable Kneeling One Arm Lat Pulldown

The Cable Kneeling One Arm Lat Pulldown is a foundational movement that builds strength and muscle through controlled, progressive overload. Train it 1 to 2 times per week with 3 to 5 working sets per session, gradually adding weight or reps as form holds up.