10 Best Lever One Arm Lateral High Row Alternatives for Limited Equipment

The Lever One Arm Lateral High Row is done seated with a lever machine. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Lever Unilateral Row, the Lever Reverse Grip Vertical Row and the Lever High Row.

Updated Ranked by our 12-factor similarity model How it works

Original Exercise: Lever One Arm Lateral High Row

Lever One Arm Lateral High RowPlay demonstration
Primary muscle
Upper Back
Equipment
Lever
Difficulty
Intermediate
Type
Compound

Secondary muscles: Biceps, Shoulders

How to perform Lever One Arm Lateral High Row
  1. Adjust the seat height and position yourself facing the machine.
  2. Grasp the handle with one hand and keep your back straight.
  3. Pull the handle towards your body, keeping your elbow close to your side.
  4. Squeeze your back muscles at the top of the movement.
  5. Slowly release the handle back to the starting position.
  6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
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Ranked Lever One Arm Lateral High Row Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Lever One Arm Lateral High Row on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. The higher the score, the less you change. Open "How to perform this exercise" on a card for the steps; every card title links to that exercise's own alternatives page.

  1. Best match
    Lever Unilateral RowPlay demonstration

    1. Lever Unilateral Row

    85% match
    • Upper Back
    • Lever
    • Intermediate
    • Compound

    It uses the same equipment and still works the upper back.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Adjust the seat height and position yourself facing the machine.
    2. Grasp the handles with an overhand grip and keep your back straight.
    3. Pull the handles towards your body, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    4. Pause for a moment at the peak of the movement, then slowly release and extend your arms back to the starting position.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: upper back, the same as the Lever One Arm Lateral High Row
    • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Lever One Arm Lateral High Row
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Lever One Arm Lateral High Row
  2. Lever Reverse Grip Vertical RowPlay demonstration

    2. Lever Reverse Grip Vertical Row

    79% match
    • Upper Back
    • Lever
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Adjust the seat height and footplate position to ensure proper alignment.
    2. Sit on the machine with your chest against the pad and your feet flat on the footplate.
    3. Grasp the handles with an underhand grip, palms facing up.
    4. Keep your back straight and engage your core.
    5. Pull the handles towards your chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    6. Pause for a moment at the top of the movement, then slowly release and extend your arms back to the starting position.
    7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: upper back, the same as the Lever One Arm Lateral High Row
    • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Lever One Arm Lateral High Row
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Lever One Arm Lateral High Row
  3. Lever High RowPlay demonstration

    3. Lever High Row

    78% match
    • Upper Back
    • Lever
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Adjust the seat height and foot platform to a comfortable position.
    2. Sit on the machine with your chest against the pad and your feet flat on the foot platform.
    3. Grasp the handles with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
    4. Keep your back straight and engage your core.
    5. Pull the handles towards your body, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    6. Pause for a moment at the peak of the movement, then slowly release the handles back to the starting position.
    7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: upper back, the same as the Lever One Arm Lateral High Row
    • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Lever One Arm Lateral High Row
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Lever One Arm Lateral High Row
  4. Lever Seated RowPlay demonstration

    4. Lever Seated Row

    78% match
    • Upper Back
    • Lever
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Adjust the seat height and footrests to a comfortable position.
    2. Sit on the machine with your chest against the pad and your feet on the footrests.
    3. Grasp the handles with an overhand grip, shoulder-width apart.
    4. Keep your back straight and your core engaged.
    5. Pull the handles towards your body, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    6. Pause for a moment at the peak of the movement.
    7. Slowly release the handles and return to the starting position.
    8. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: upper back, the same as the Lever One Arm Lateral High Row
    • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Lever One Arm Lateral High Row
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Lever One Arm Lateral High Row
  5. Smith One Arm RowPlay demonstration

    5. Smith One Arm Row

    77% match
    • Upper Back
    • Smith-machine
    • Intermediate
    • Compound

    A good swap when you have a Smith machine to work with, and it still works the upper back.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Adjust the height of the smith machine bar to waist level.
    2. Stand facing the smith machine with your feet shoulder-width apart.
    3. Bend your knees slightly and hinge forward at the hips, keeping your back straight.
    4. Grasp the bar with one hand using an overhand grip, with your palm facing down.
    5. Keep your elbow close to your body and pull the bar towards your waist, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    6. Pause for a moment at the top of the movement, then slowly lower the bar back to the starting position.
    7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch to the other arm.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: upper back, the same as the Lever One Arm Lateral High Row
    • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Lever One Arm Lateral High Row
    • Body position: standing, not seated
  6. Lever Narrow Grip Seated RowPlay demonstration

    6. Lever Narrow Grip Seated Row

    77% match
    • Upper Back
    • Lever
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Adjust the seat height and footrests to ensure proper form.
    2. Sit on the machine with your feet flat on the footrests and your knees slightly bent.
    3. Grasp the handles with a narrow grip, palms facing each other.
    4. Keep your back straight and lean slightly forward.
    5. Pull the handles towards your torso, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    6. Pause for a moment at the peak of the movement.
    7. Slowly release the handles and return to the starting position.
    8. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: upper back, the same as the Lever One Arm Lateral High Row
    • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Lever One Arm Lateral High Row
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Lever One Arm Lateral High Row
  7. Band One Arm Twisting Seated RowPlay demonstration

    7. Band One Arm Twisting Seated Row

    75% match
    • Upper Back
    • Band
    • Intermediate
    • Compound

    A good swap when you have a band to work with, and it still works the upper back.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Sit on a bench or chair with your feet flat on the ground and your back straight.
    2. Hold the band with one hand and extend your arm fully in front of you.
    3. Keeping your back straight, pull the band towards your body by bending your elbow and squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    4. At the same time, twist your torso towards the side of the pulling arm.
    5. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly release the tension in the band and return to the starting position.
    6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch to the other arm.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: upper back, the same as the Lever One Arm Lateral High Row
    • Equipment: a band, not a machine
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Lever One Arm Lateral High Row
  8. Smith Bent Over RowPlay demonstration

    8. Smith Bent Over Row

    72% match
    • Upper Back
    • Smith-machine
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Set up the smith machine with the bar at hip height.
    2. Stand facing the bar with your feet shoulder-width apart.
    3. Bend your knees slightly and hinge forward at the hips, keeping your back straight.
    4. Grasp the bar with an overhand grip, hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
    5. Pull the bar towards your lower chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    6. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the bar back down to the starting position.
    7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: upper back, the same as the Lever One Arm Lateral High Row
    • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Lever One Arm Lateral High Row
    • Body position: standing, not seated
  9. Cable Upper RowPlay demonstration

    9. Cable Upper Row

    71% match
    • Upper Back
    • Cable
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Attach a straight bar to a cable machine at chest height.
    2. Stand facing the machine with your feet shoulder-width apart.
    3. Grasp the bar with an overhand grip, hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
    4. Keep your back straight and your core engaged.
    5. Pull the bar towards your upper chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    6. Pause for a moment at the top of the movement.
    7. Slowly release the bar back to the starting position.
    8. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: upper back, the same as the Lever One Arm Lateral High Row
    • Equipment: a cable, not a machine
    • Body position: standing, not seated
  10. London BridgePlay demonstration

    10. London Bridge

    70% match
    • Upper Back
    • Rope
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Attach the rope to a high anchor point.
    2. Stand facing away from the anchor point with your feet shoulder-width apart.
    3. Grasp the rope with an overhand grip, palms facing down.
    4. Lean forward slightly, keeping your back straight and core engaged.
    5. Pull the rope towards your body, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    6. Pause for a moment at the peak of the movement, then slowly release the tension and return to the starting position.
    7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: upper back, the same as the Lever One Arm Lateral High Row
    • Equipment: a suspension trainer, not a machine
    • Body position: standing, not seated

Why You Might Need a Lever One Arm Lateral High Row Alternative

You may need alternatives for several reasons: the gym lacks a lever station, you feel shoulder pain with the specific lever path, or you prefer unilateral loading progression. Substitutes let you preserve the same movement pattern and muscle activation, scapular retraction, elbow-abduction, and posterior deltoid engagement, while changing load vectors or joint angles. For rehab or impingement, use chest-supported rows to reduce spinal load and limit overhead abduction. For strength balance, pick single-arm rows to correct unilateral deficits. Technical cue: control the eccentric phase and maintain scapular retraction to keep rhomboids and mid-trapezius engaged.

Lever One Arm Lateral High Row FAQ

What muscles does Lever One Arm Lateral High Row work?

It targets the upper back: rhomboids, middle and lower trapezius, and posterior deltoid, with the lats and biceps assisting. Biomechanically it combines scapular retraction with a high, lateral elbow path to emphasize rear delt and mid-trap activation.

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Similarity scores compare exercise metadata such as movement pattern, muscles, equipment and body position. They are not a safety rating or a check that you own the equipment. Learn about our methodology