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Cable Preacher Curl vs Cable Bayesian Curl

Cable Preacher Curl vs Cable Bayesian Curl

A look at how arm position affects regional bicep muscle hypertrophy and strength.

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Danny James
May 27, 2025
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Cable Preacher Curl vs Cable Bayesian Curl
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Male bodybuilder performing cable bicep curls wearing light blue t-shirt
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This study investigated whether performing elbow flexion resistance training with the shoulder in a flexed position (Preacher curl, PREA) versus an extended position (Bayesian curl, BAYE) affects regional muscle hypertrophy and maximum strength gains in the elbow flexors, specifically the biceps brachii and brachialis.

Aim

To compare the effects of two elbow flexion exercises differing only in shoulder joint angle (~50° flexed vs. extended) but matched for resistance profiles on:

  • Regional hypertrophy of biceps brachii and brachialis

  • Maximum strength gains in the respective exercises

Methods

  • Design: Within-subject, randomised; each participant trained one arm with PREA and the other with BAYE

  • Participants: 15 young men (average age 25.6 years, body mass 77.3 kg)

  • Intervention: 10 weeks, twice-weekly, 3–5 sets of 8–12 RM unilateral cable curls

  • Measurements:

    • Muscle thickness (MT) at proximal, mid, and distal regions of biceps brachii and brachialis via ultrasound

    • One-repetition maximum (1RM) strength tests for each exercise pre- and post-training

  • Controlled variables: Protein supplementation post-exercise, supervised training, matched resistance profiles between exercises

Results

  • Both PREA and BAYE conditions led to significant increases in muscle thickness across all measured regions of biceps brachii and brachialis (6–10% increases), with no significant differences between shoulder positions

  • No regional hypertrophy differences were observed within muscles; hypertrophy was homogeneous along the muscle length in both conditions

  • Maximum strength improved significantly in both exercises (PREA: 28% increase; BAYE: 37% increase), with no statistically significant difference between them

  • The shoulder joint angle did not affect the magnitude of hypertrophy or strength gains when resistance profiles were matched

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