Q&A for How to Build Forearm Muscles

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  • Question
    I am 14 and I rest my body a lot, including with massages. I see very little change in my forearms and I have been training forearms 3 times a week. I work very hard with 10 kg dumbbells.
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Michele Dolan is a Fitness Trainer based in Sidney, British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002, and was certified as a Personal Trainer by the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA). Michele is also a Registered Clinical Counselor, and uses her 20+ years of fitness coaching experience to help clients understand their mind-body connection. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC), certified by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. In her work, Michele uses the tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. She practices and teaches mindfulness and acceptance in all of her coaching work. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology.
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Expert Answer
    One reason you may not see visible results in the muscle could be a layer of fatty tissue overlying the muscle. Check your BMI, and decide of you have some excess fat tissue that covers your muscles. You should see results, using the exercises recommended here, using 10 kg dumbbells.
  • Question
    Even though i have good chest & lats muscles, my arms are too small and look awkward. So I need to gain only arm muscles. Can you please help me & give me suggestions to gain ONLY arm muscles?
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Michele Dolan is a Fitness Trainer based in Sidney, British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002, and was certified as a Personal Trainer by the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA). Michele is also a Registered Clinical Counselor, and uses her 20+ years of fitness coaching experience to help clients understand their mind-body connection. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC), certified by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. In her work, Michele uses the tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. She practices and teaches mindfulness and acceptance in all of her coaching work. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology.
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Expert Answer
    I recommend trying the exercises here to build your forearm muscles. You should also add biceps and triceps exercises to your workout routine.
  • Question
    Do pull ups work out your forearms?
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Michele Dolan is a Fitness Trainer based in Sidney, British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002, and was certified as a Personal Trainer by the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA). Michele is also a Registered Clinical Counselor, and uses her 20+ years of fitness coaching experience to help clients understand their mind-body connection. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC), certified by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. In her work, Michele uses the tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. She practices and teaches mindfulness and acceptance in all of her coaching work. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology.
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Expert Answer
    Yes! Pull ups are one fantastic exercise you can use for building the forearm muscles.
  • Question
    How do you get your forearms bigger?
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Michele Dolan is a Fitness Trainer based in Sidney, British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002, and was certified as a Personal Trainer by the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA). Michele is also a Registered Clinical Counselor, and uses her 20+ years of fitness coaching experience to help clients understand their mind-body connection. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC), certified by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. In her work, Michele uses the tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. She practices and teaches mindfulness and acceptance in all of her coaching work. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology.
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Expert Answer
    You can try gripping exercises and wrist exercises, since both types help build forearm muscle.
  • Question
    How do you work your forearms with dumbbells?
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Michele Dolan is a Fitness Trainer based in Sidney, British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002, and was certified as a Personal Trainer by the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA). Michele is also a Registered Clinical Counselor, and uses her 20+ years of fitness coaching experience to help clients understand their mind-body connection. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC), certified by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. In her work, Michele uses the tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. She practices and teaches mindfulness and acceptance in all of her coaching work. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology.
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Expert Answer
    Try performing wrist curls, using both overhand and underhand lifts for best results.
  • Question
    How do you work on your forearms?
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Michele Dolan is a Fitness Trainer based in Sidney, British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002, and was certified as a Personal Trainer by the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA). Michele is also a Registered Clinical Counselor, and uses her 20+ years of fitness coaching experience to help clients understand their mind-body connection. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC), certified by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. In her work, Michele uses the tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. She practices and teaches mindfulness and acceptance in all of her coaching work. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology.
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Expert Answer
    Try the wrist roller, chin ups, bent over rows and push ups to work your forearms.
  • Question
    Are push ups good for forearms?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Push ups aren't your best bet for strengthening forearms, but you will engage the forearems much more in this exercise if you work your way up to doing the knuckle or finger push up variations.
  • Question
    How do I strengthen my wrists?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Wrist curls might be a good place to start, but any exercise that requires grip strength, like pull ups where you hang from a bar, or various weightlifting exercises that require you to grip a dumbbell or barbell will also help with wrist strength. Incorporate wrist stretches to help avoid injury. Of course, there are many more exercises for wrist strength you can try.
  • Question
    How do I make my wrists bigger?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Unfortunately, it is very difficult to increase the size of your wrists because your wrists are mostly bone and tendons without much muscle. By training your forearms you can increase your wrist size slightly, but then you may actually make your wrists appear smaller in comparison when your forearm muscles grow in size.
  • Question
    Do pull ups work out your forearms?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Pull ups will work your forearms. Just hanging from the bar engages the forearms and the exercise itself requires additional forearm strength.
  • Question
    I am noticing only a little increase in my forearms, but I am doing these exercises twice a week. What am I doing wrong?
    Community Answer
    Forearm muscles are mostly slow twitch fibers, which means you should train them at least three times a week. Try higher reps as well and go until you feel the burning sensation.
  • Question
    I am 22 years old. I weigh 53 kg and my height is 5'5". How can I increase my weight?
    Community Answer
    The key is to eat. You must consume more calories than you are burning. If you are looking to build this weight as muscle, then do low reps with high weight. Eat lots of protein and carbs to build muscle mass.
  • Question
    If I exceed 12-15 on the wrist curls without struggle, should I increase my weight?
    Community Answer
    Forearms are best worked on low weight with high reps. This being said, if you find the weight isn't straining the muscle, then use more weight. Generally, 12-15 is a good rep range for forearms.
  • Question
    I have tried so much to build my forearm muscles, but I can't notice even a single change. What can I do?
    Community Answer
    Building muscles takes time, so keep on trying. You will start to notice change. If it seems too easy, then you can try a couple of more reps in a set.
  • Question
    Do I have to do all these exercises or only one of them?
    Community Answer
    Try to do all if possible, because it will give you a well-rounded development of your forearms.
  • Question
    I'm trying to lose weight and gain muscle at the same time, what should I do to gain muscle and lose fat?
    Community Answer
    Do high amount of reps during your sets. You'll burn more calories, which will help you lose weight, but since you're lifting you'll be gaining muscle.
  • Question
    I'm 19 years old, weigh 43kg and am 5.3 inches tall. I work out twice daily and rest every Sunday. How much protein should I have to get bigger arms?
    Community Answer
    Your body isn't getting enough rest, which is why you aren't growing to your goal. Try cutting back on how often you work out before focusing on your protein.
  • Question
    How long will this take to build muscle?
    Community Answer
    It will start building muscle right away, but it may not be enough to notice for several months.
  • Question
    How can I make my wrists stronger for arm wrestling by using body weight only?
    Community Answer
    There is an exercise called monkey holds, it is like hanging on a bar or gymnastic rings but not using the fully extended version of your arms. Instead you try to focus on your forearms activation through the exercise.
  • Question
    What can I do if only one of my forearms is growing?
    Community Answer
    Try doing symmetrical lifts. Instead of doing bicep curls with dumbbells, try using a straight bar or EZ bar. You can also do some focused workouts on your smaller arm to try to build up the muscle first.
  • Question
    When I lose muscle due to overtraining, can it be recovered?
    Community Answer
    Overtraining will stunt your muscle growth and affect your muscle's ability to repair. Take at least a week off, and then plan rest/recovery days into your plan.
  • Question
    How do I get bigger forearms without weights?
    Community Answer
    Try the hand grip, or try doing pull-ups. You can also try wrist curls without weight.
  • Question
    Which muscles do finger and wrist push ups target?
    Eshaan Joshi
    Community Answer
    They mainly target your wrist mobility and your forearm (extensor). They also increase your grip strength and strengthen your finger ligaments.
  • Question
    Some people say that wrist curls are bad for the wrist joint. Is that true?
    Community Answer
    They can be bad for the joints if done incorrectly. If you maintain proper form, they're perfectly safe. Check out YouTube videos that model the form, or ask a personal trainer to guide you.
  • Question
    The muscles of my left forearm are a bit smaller than those in my right. Any tips to cure this?
    Mahesh Umrekar
    Community Answer
    This is very common problem to have one side little smaller than other. Switch to unilateral exercises from bilateral because your dominant arm automatically takes more weight than your weaker arm. Exercise with a slightly heavier weight for the weaker arm than the stronger arm. The difference may be around 5 pounds.
  • Question
    I'm a skinny teenager how what method is good for me and how many reps do i have to do every day?
    Community Answer
    Lifting weights is probably the best option. Lift at a higher weight for 4 sets of 8-10 reps and alternate working different muscle groups (chest, back, legs) on different days. Aim to do forearm exercises about 2 times a week.
  • Question
    You said on some of the exercises aim for 12 to 15 reps. How much weight should someone start with, number of sets, rest time between sets and when to add weight?
    Community Answer
    Everyone’s body is different. With amount of weight, the majority of the reps should be doable, with the last few being challenging. The first couple of times you may have to experiment in order to find what feels right. Rest at least 1 minute in between each set, to avoid muscle burnout. Try to perform about 3-4 sets.
  • Question
    How long does it take to build big forearms?
    Community Answer
    The process is so incremental and the rate so varied that in 4 weeks you could put on 1/4 inch around your forearm while someone else might put on 1/2 inch.
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