Dips: An Upper-Body Exercise for Beginners

A demanding upper-body strength exercise

Dips are a classic compound movement for the upper body. Much as squats challenge the lower body, regular dip training can develop strength and muscle in the chest, shoulders and arms.

The technique is demanding, however. An unsuitable range or a loss of control can place considerable stress on the shoulders and elbows, so take time to learn the setup and movement before increasing the difficulty.

If you are building your pressing strength, push-ups are another useful movement to understand as part of a balanced programme.