Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift vs Cable Pull Through
Swapping Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift (Dumbbell) for Cable Pull Through (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 Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift for Cable Pull Through.
| Muscle Group | Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift | Cable Pull Through | Leverage Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamstrings | Primary (42%) | Primary (42%) | Matched |
| Glutes (Gluteus Maximus / Medius) | Primary (30%) | Primary (30%) | Matched |
| Lower Back (Spinal Erectors) | Secondary (18%) | Secondary (18%) | Matched |
| Forearms & Grip | Secondary (10%) | Secondary (10%) | Matched |
Load & Volume Conversion: Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift → Cable Pull Through
Worked weight heuristic: a 38 kg per hand set on Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift (Dumbbell) maps roughly to 45 kg on Cable Pull Through (Cable; 2.5 kg jumps, curve: constant cable tension at peak lengthened position). Calibrate set 1 at RPE 8 so e1RM history for Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift remains unskewed. Zero anatomical muscles are dropped between Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift and Cable Pull Through; 1:1 weekly set volume carries straight across.
Supporting Sports-Science Literature
| Study Title | Lead Author & Year | Verified Link |
|---|---|---|
| Kettlebell swing targets semitendinosus and supine leg curl targets biceps femoris: an EMG study with rehabilitation implications. | Zebis (2013) | PubMed 22736206 ↗ |
| Gluteal Muscle Forces during Hip-Focused Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation Exercises. | Collings (2023) | PubMed 36918403 ↗ |
| On hip and lumbar biomechanics. A study of joint load and muscular activity. | Németh (1984) | PubMed 6390670 ↗ |
| Lengthened partial repetitions elicit similar muscular adaptations as full range of motion repetitions during resistance training in trained individuals. | Wolf (2025) | PubMed 39959841 ↗ |