Which movement pattern does the bent-over row primarily represent?

• A. Horizontal pull
• B. Vertical push
• C. Squat
• D. Vertical pull

Answer: (A)

It represents a horizontal pulling pattern. In a bent-over row you hinge at the hips and pull the weight toward your torso in a relatively horizontal direction, with the aim of bringing the bar toward the chest as the elbows move back. This horizontal line of pull distinguishes it from vertical pulls (like pull-ups or lat pulldowns) where the weight is lifted or pulled straight upward. It’s not a squat or a vertical push, which involve moving the body in a vertical plane or pushing away from the body, respectively. So the primary movement pattern is horizontal pull, aligning with how the force travels toward the body in a rowing motion.