{"id":26015,"date":"2026-08-01T08:22:50","date_gmt":"2026-08-01T08:22:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=26015"},"modified":"2026-08-01T08:22:50","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T08:22:50","slug":"lou-ferrignos-go-to-back-builder-how-to-do-the-row-variation-that-built-his-legendary-physique","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=26015","title":{"rendered":"Lou Ferrigno’s Go-To Back Builder \u2013 How to Do the Row Variation That Built His Legendary Physique"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Lou Ferrigno<\/a> is proving you’re never too old to lift heavy<\/a>. Even at 74, the bodybuilding legend is still in the gym pumping iron \u2013 nearly 50 years after the release of the Pumping Iron<\/em> documentary, in which he famously competed against Arnold Schwarzenegger for the Mr Olympia title.<\/p>\n

In a recent video shared on Facebook, Ferrigno is seen performing T-bar rows<\/a> with the same intensity that made him one of bodybuilding’s biggest stars. It’s an exercise that formed the backbone of his workouts in the 1970s.<\/p>\n

‘Amazing, over 50 years later Arnold and I are still doing this exercise: T-bar rows,’ Ferrigno says<\/a>. ‘This is called pumping iron. Back over 50 years ago, we didn’t have the fancy machines. We had iron, pumping iron, blood, sweat, and tears, kicking butt. We’re still here, buddy, kicking butt.’<\/p>\n

The T-bar row is a fantastic back builder that requires just a barbell and a few weight plates, targeting the lats<\/a>, teres major, trapezius<\/a>, erector spinae, rear deltoids<\/a>, biceps<\/a>, core<\/a> and glutes<\/a>. It builds muscle and strength across the entire back and, depending on the variation, may place less stress on the lower back than a traditional bent-over row.<\/p>\n

This isn’t just a one-off gym session for Ferrigno, either. He continues to train regularly, prioritising consistent movement and working through a variety of exercises in his home gym.<\/p>\n

‘Stay active and feel young,’ he says<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ferrigno has now been lifting weights for more than 60 years. <\/p>\n

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How to Do the T-Bar Row<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n