What to Do with Ergonomic Handles: The Ultimate Guide to Better Upper Body Cable Workouts
Discover what to do with ergonomic handles for cable machines. Learn how to use ergonomic cable handle attachments for tricep pushdowns, hammer curls, lateral raises, rear delt flyes, and more to improve wrist comfort, muscle activation, and upper body gains.
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2/11/20268 min read
If you’re serious about building stronger arms, broader shoulders, and a more defined upper body, upgrading your cable machine setup can make a massive difference. One of my favorite attachments right now is the ergonomic handle attachment—and if you train regularly, you’ll quickly understand why.
In this guide, we’ll break down what to do with ergonomic handles, how to use them for tricep pushdowns, hammer curls, lateral raises, rear delt flyes, and more—and why this simple upgrade can improve joint comfort, muscle activation, and long-term progress.
👉 Check out the exact ergonomic handles I recommend here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJ8Z1WBJ?linkCode=sl1&tag=mindmuscleper-20
What To Do With Ergonomic Handles?

Why Ergonomic Handles Are a Game-Changer for Upper Body Training
Traditional straight bars and D-handles force your wrists into fixed positions. Over time, that can lead to wrist strain, elbow irritation, and reduced mind-muscle connection. Ergonomic handles are designed to support a more natural wrist and hand alignment during cable exercises.
Because your wrists aren’t fighting the handle position, you can focus on contracting the target muscle instead of managing joint discomfort. This makes them especially powerful for high-volume arm and shoulder work.
Using ergonomic cable handle attachments can:
Reduce wrist strain during pushdowns and curls
Improve grip comfort on heavier sets
Increase mind-muscle connection
Support more natural arm positioning
Enhance long-term joint health
If you train upper body frequently, this small upgrade can pay off big.
👉 Try them here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJ8Z1WBJ?linkCode=sl1&tag=mindmuscleper-20
Tricep Pushdowns with Ergonomic Handles
Tricep pushdowns are one of the most effective cable exercises for building thicker, stronger arms. But standard straight bars often lock your wrists into an awkward angle.
With ergonomic handles, your wrists can stay in a more neutral position, allowing you to:
Fully extend the elbows without wrist discomfort
Drive stronger tricep contractions at the bottom
Control the negative more smoothly
This makes them perfect for hypertrophy-focused tricep training and higher rep sets.
How to Use Them for Pushdowns:
Attach the ergonomic handles to a high pulley.
Stand tall with elbows pinned to your sides.
Press the handles down while keeping wrists neutral.
Squeeze hard at full extension.
Control the return slowly.
Quick Overview – Tricep Pushdowns with Ergonomic Handles
More natural wrist alignment
Better tricep isolation
Less elbow and wrist strain
Ideal for moderate-to-high reps
Great for arm growth phases
Upgrade your pushdowns here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJ8Z1WBJ?linkCode=sl1&tag=mindmuscleper-20
Hammer Curls for Bigger Biceps and Forearms
Hammer curls target the brachialis and brachioradialis, helping you build thicker arms from every angle. When done on cables, constant tension makes them even more effective.
Ergonomic handles allow a comfortable neutral grip, which is essential for hammer curls. Unlike rigid bars, these handles let your hands settle naturally, reducing unnecessary tension in the wrists.
How to Perform Cable Hammer Curls:
Set the pulley to the lowest position.
Attach the ergonomic handles.
Stand upright with arms fully extended.
Curl upward with a neutral grip.
Pause and squeeze at the top.
Lower slowly under control.
Quick Overview – Hammer Curls
Emphasizes brachialis for thicker arms
Constant cable tension
Comfortable neutral grip
Reduced wrist stress
Excellent for arm hypertrophy
Grab the same ergonomic handles here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJ8Z1WBJ?linkCode=sl1&tag=mindmuscleper-20
Lateral Raises for Wider Shoulders
Cable lateral raises are one of the best exercises for developing capped delts. However, grip discomfort can limit your ability to focus purely on shoulder activation.
Using ergonomic handles:
Keeps wrist alignment comfortable
Allows cleaner movement patterns
Helps isolate the medial deltoid
Because cables provide consistent resistance, pairing them with ergonomic handles creates an incredibly smooth shoulder-building movement.
How to Do Cable Lateral Raises:
Attach handles to low pulleys.
Stand centered between cables.
Raise arms to shoulder height.
Keep elbows slightly bent.
Control the descent slowly.
Quick Overview – Lateral Raises
Targets medial delts
Smooth cable resistance
Improved comfort at wrists
Better control at top range
Ideal for high-rep shoulder sets
Get them here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJ8Z1WBJ?linkCode=sl1&tag=mindmuscleper-20
Rear Delt Flyes for Balanced Shoulder Development
Rear delts are often undertrained, leading to shoulder imbalances and posture issues. Cable rear delt flyes are a powerful fix.
Ergonomic handles shine here because:
They reduce forearm strain
Allow natural external rotation
Improve isolation of the posterior deltoid
You’ll feel more activation in the rear delts instead of compensating with traps.
How to Perform Rear Delt Flyes:
Set cables at chest height.
Cross arms to grab opposite handles.
Pull outward in a wide arc.
Focus on squeezing rear delts.
Return slowly with control.
Quick Overview – Rear Delt Flyes
Strengthens posterior delts
Improves shoulder balance
Supports better posture
Minimizes wrist discomfort
Perfect for upper body symmetry
Check them out here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJ8Z1WBJ?linkCode=sl1&tag=mindmuscleper-20
Other Upper Body Movements You Can Do
So far, I've just mentioneda few of my favorite exercises to do with ergonomic handles, but these ergonomic cable attachments aren’t limited to just a few exercises. They’re versatile enough for:
Face pulls
Upright rows
Single-arm rows
Chest fly variations
Cable front raises
High-to-low and low-to-high flyes
Because they promote a natural hand position, they’re suitable for nearly any upper body cable movement.
Quick Overview – Additional Uses
Face pulls for shoulder health
Upright rows for traps and delts
Chest flyes for pec isolation
Front raises for anterior delts
Row variations for back development
Upgrade your entire cable setup here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJ8Z1WBJ?linkCode=sl1&tag=mindmuscleper-20
Final Thoughts: Are Ergonomic Handles Worth It?
If you train upper body regularly and rely on cable machines, ergonomic handles are absolutely worth adding to your gym bag. They improve wrist positioning, reduce joint strain, enhance comfort, and help you focus more on muscle contraction.
Whether you’re doing tricep pushdowns, hammer curls, lateral raises, or rear delt flyes, this simple attachment can elevate your training experience.
For anyone looking to improve upper body cable workouts, increase arm growth, and train more comfortably, these are one of the best small investments you can make.
👉 Get the ergonomic handles here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJ8Z1WBJ?linkCode=sl1&tag=mindmuscleper-20
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