Barbell Triceps Extension vs Cable Triceps Extension/push down
Swapping Barbell Triceps Extension (Barbell) for Cable Triceps Extension/push down (Cable) retains 100% overlap; expect pulley-guided continuous line of pull. Compare exact 17-muscle fractional recruitment before swapping equipment mid-session.
Side-by-Side 17-Muscle Recruitment Delta
How primary mover (1.0× set) and synergist (0.5× set) allocation changes when swapping Barbell Triceps Extension for Cable Triceps Extension/push down.
| Muscle Group | Barbell Triceps Extension | Cable Triceps Extension/push down | Leverage Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triceps Brachii | Primary (100%) | Primary (100%) | Matched |
Load & Volume Conversion: Barbell Triceps Extension → Cable Triceps Extension/push down
Worked weight heuristic: a 100 kg set on Barbell Triceps Extension (Barbell) maps roughly to 45 kg on Cable Triceps Extension/push down (Cable; 2.5 kg jumps, curve: constant cable tension at peak lengthened position). Calibrate set 1 at RPE 8 so e1RM history for Barbell Triceps Extension remains unskewed. Zero anatomical muscles are dropped between Barbell Triceps Extension and Cable Triceps Extension/push down; 1:1 weekly set volume carries straight across.
Supporting Sports-Science Literature
| Study Title | Lead Author & Year | Verified Link |
|---|---|---|
| Varying the Order of Combinations of Single- and Multi-Joint Exercises Differentially Affects Resistance Training Adaptations. | Brandão (2020) | PubMed 32149887 ↗ |
| Neuromuscular responses for resistance training sessions adopting traditional, superset, paired set and circuit methods. | Paz (2019) | PubMed 31113178 ↗ |
| Less time, same gains: Comparison of superset vs. traditional set training on muscular adaptations | Burke (2025) | DOI ↗ |
| Effect of timing of protein and carbohydrate intake after resistance exercise on nitrogen balance in trained and untrained young men. | Mori (2014) | PubMed 25096224 ↗ |