{"id":42987,"date":"2022-05-12T19:39:03","date_gmt":"2022-05-12T19:39:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/?p=42987"},"modified":"2024-12-16T08:35:01","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T08:35:01","slug":"wood-chop-exercise-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"Wood Chop Exercise Benefits, Muscles Worked, And Variations"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_75 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#What_Is_The_Wood_Chop_Exercise\" >What Is The Wood Chop Exercise?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#How_To_Do_The_Wood_Chop_Exercise\" >How To Do The Wood Chop Exercise<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#The_Lift\" >The Lift<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#The_Chop\" >The Chop<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Wood_Chop_Proper_Form_And_Breathing\" >Wood Chop Proper Form And Breathing<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Core_Engagement\" >Core Engagement<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Feet_And_Knees_Positioning\" >Feet And Knees Positioning<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Breathing\" >Breathing<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#What_Muscles_Does_Wood_Chop_Exercise_Work\" >What Muscles Does Wood Chop Exercise Work?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Core_Muscles\" >Core Muscles<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Hip_Muscles\" >Hip Muscles<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Shoulders_And_Arms\" >Shoulders And Arms<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Thigh_And_Calf_Muscles\" >Thigh And Calf Muscles<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Benefits_Of_Wood_Chop_Exercise\" >Benefits Of Wood Chop Exercise<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Improved_Core_Strength\" >Improved Core Strength<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Improved_Overall_Strength\" >Improved Overall Strength<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Improved_Coordination\" >Improved Coordination<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Improved_Athletic_Performance\" >Improved Athletic Performance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Improved_Posture\" >Improved Posture<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Fat_Loss\" >Fat Loss<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Common_Mistakes\" >Common Mistakes<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Not_Keeping_Your_Core_Engaged\" >Not Keeping Your Core Engaged<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Not_Maintaining_Good_Form\" >Not Maintaining Good Form<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Swinging_The_Weight_Too_Much\" >Swinging The Weight Too Much<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Variations_Of_The_Wood_Chop_Exercise\" >Variations Of The Wood Chop Exercise<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Using_A_Resistance_Band\" >Using A Resistance Band<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-27\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Using_A_Dumbbell\" >Using A Dumbbell<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-28\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Using_A_Medicine_Ball\" >Using A Medicine Ball<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-29\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Doing_Single-Arm_Chops\" >Doing Single-Arm Chops<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-30\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Doing_Lateral_Chops\" >Doing Lateral Chops<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-31\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Using_A_Cable_Machine\" >Using A Cable Machine<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-32\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Changing_Your_Stance\" >Changing Your Stance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-33\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#Controlling_Your_Tempo\" >Controlling Your Tempo<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-34\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#The_Bottom_Line\" >The Bottom Line<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your core is the center of your body. Included are all the muscles in your trunk, from your hips to your shoulders. A strong core is essential for daily activities such as sitting up, bending and lifting (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/healthbeat\/the-real-world-benefits-of-strengthening-your-core\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The wood chop exercise is a great way to work your core muscles. This movement also challenges your balance and coordination. Wood chops come in various forms. You can use a dumbbell, barbell, medicine ball, or kettlebell. You can also do this movement with just your body weight. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let&#8217;s go through the basics of the wood chop including the benefits, muscles worked, and some <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/dumbbell-hamstring-exercises\/\">variations<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Wood_Chop_Exercise_Benefits\" target=\"_blank\"><video autoplay=\"autoplay\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"muted\" playsinline=\"playsinline\" width=\"777\"><source src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ezgif.com-gif-to-mp4-2.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\" \/><\/video><\/a>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_The_Wood_Chop_Exercise\"><\/span><strong>What Is The Wood Chop Exercise?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Picture a log lying on the ground. You are going to pretend that the log is in front of you and you are going to chop it in half with an ax. The wood chop exercise simulates this <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/powerlifting-for-seniors\/\">motion<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This movement involves both a rotation of the torso and a lifting of the arms overhead. Depending on the variation, you can use different types of equipment. For example, you could hold a medicine ball, dumbbell, or kettlebell.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_To_Do_The_Wood_Chop_Exercise\"><\/span><strong>How To Do The Wood Chop Exercise<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are two major stages of the wood chop exercise- the lift and the chop.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Lift\"><\/span><strong>The Lift<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Begin by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart. If you are using a weight, hold it close to your chest with both hands.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engage your core muscles and lift the weight overhead. As you do this, twist your torso to the right.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Chop\"><\/span><strong>The Chop<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From the overhead position, lower the weight diagonally across your body to the outside of your left hip.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you do this, in one motion twist your torso left and bend your knees.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Return to the starting position and repeat on the other side. That&#8217;s one rep.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep your movement fluid and controlled throughout the exercise.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Read More:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/water-exercises-for-seniors\/\">Water Exercises For Seniors: The Benefits, Safety Tips, And Best Water Aerobics Exercises For Seniors<\/a><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Wood_Chop_Exercise_Benefits\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-41635 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Frame-5918-1024x576.png\" alt=\"BetterMe\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Frame-5918.png 1024w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Frame-5918-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Frame-5918.png 768w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Frame-5918-1636x920.png 1636w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Frame-5918.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wood_Chop_Proper_Form_And_Breathing\"><\/span><strong>Wood Chop Proper Form And Breathing<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consider these aspects of the wood chop exercise. Getting these right ensures that you&#8217;re hitting the right muscles and getting the most out of your exercise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Core_Engagement\"><\/span><strong>Core Engagement<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the wood chop exercise challenges your core, it&#8217;s also important to keep your other muscles engaged. Be sure to squeeze your glutes and brace your abs throughout the move. This will help you maintain good form and avoid injury.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Feet_And_Knees_Positioning\"><\/span><strong>Feet And Knees Positioning<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your feet should be shoulder-width apart with your knees slightly bent throughout the movement. This will help you maintain balance and stability. Both your feet and knees should be pointed in the same direction throughout the exercise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Breathing\"><\/span><strong>Breathing<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As with any type of lifting, it&#8217;s important to exhale during the effort stage of the wood chop. In this case, that would be when you are chopping the weight.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Wood_Chop_Exercise_Benefits\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-41461 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Frame-4576-1024x576.png\" alt=\"wood chop exercise benefits\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Frame-4576.png 1024w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Frame-4576-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Frame-4576.png 768w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Frame-4576-1636x920.png 1636w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Frame-4576.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Muscles_Does_Wood_Chop_Exercise_Work\"><\/span><strong>What Muscles Does Wood Chop Exercise Work?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The wood chop exercise targets a variety of muscles including:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Core_Muscles\"><\/span><strong>Core Muscles<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your core muscles include (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.physio-pedia.com\/Core_Muscles\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">):<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Obliques &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> These are the muscles on the sides of your waist.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Rectus abdominis &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the &#8220;six-pack&#8221; muscle.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Erector spinae &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> These are the muscles that run along your spine.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Latissimus dorsi &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> These are the large muscles in your back.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Transverse abdominis &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> This is the deepest layer of abdominal muscle.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wood chops work all of these muscles simultaneously. They particularly target the obliques and transverse abdominis that are involved in twisting and rotating movements.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hip_Muscles\"><\/span><strong>Hip Muscles<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your hip muscles are essential for stabilizing your pelvis and keeping your legs in alignment. The wood chop exercise works the following muscles:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Gluteus maximus &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> This is the largest muscle in your body. It&#8217;s responsible for hip extension (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK538193\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Gluteus minimus &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> This muscle is located under the gluteus medius and is responsible for abducting the hip (moving it out to the side) (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK556144\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wood chops work all of these muscles as they stabilize your pelvis and keep your legs in alignment during the twisting and lifting motions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Wood_Chop_Exercise_Benefits\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-38974 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-3935-1-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Fitness App\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-3935-1.png 1024w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-3935-1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-3935-1.png 768w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-3935-1-1636x920.png 1636w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-3935-1.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Shoulders_And_Arms\"><\/span><strong>Shoulders And Arms<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The wood chop exercise also works the muscles in your shoulders and arms. Specifically, it targets the scapular stabilizers that work to keep your shoulder blades in place. It also works the deltoids and rotator cuff muscles that stabilize your shoulder joint (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK534836\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Thigh_And_Calf_Muscles\"><\/span><strong>Thigh And Calf Muscles<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The wood chop exercise works the muscles in your thighs and calves as they stabilize your legs during the move. This includes the quadriceps, hamstrings, and gastrocnemius (calf) muscle (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/training.seer.cancer.gov\/anatomy\/muscular\/groups\/lower.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK532946\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>BetterMe app is a foolproof way to go from zero to a weight loss hero in a safe and sustainable way! What are you waiting for? <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Wood_Chop_Exercise_Benefits\">Start transforming your body now<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Benefits_Of_Wood_Chop_Exercise\"><\/span><strong>Benefits Of Wood Chop Exercise<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Several benefits come with doing the wood chop exercise regularly. These include:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Improved_Core_Strength\"><\/span><strong>Improved Core Strength<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The wood chop <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cable-machine-exercises\/\">exercise<\/a> is an excellent way to <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/dynamic-warm-up-exercises\/\">build core strength<\/a>. A strong core is essential for stabilizing your spine and trunk, and it can help to prevent back pain (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/healthbeat\/the-real-world-benefits-of-strengthening-your-core\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Improved_Overall_Strength\"><\/span><strong>Improved Overall Strength<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The wood chop exercise challenges several different muscle groups all at once. As a result, it can help to improve your overall strength and power (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/27806016\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Wood_Chop_Exercise_Benefits\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-38956 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Frame-5125-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Fitness App\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Frame-5125.png 1024w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Frame-5125-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Frame-5125.png 768w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Frame-5125-1636x920.png 1636w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Frame-5125.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Improved_Coordination\"><\/span><strong>Improved Coordination<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The wood chop exercise requires coordination and balance. As you get better at the <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/plyometric-exercises-for-speed\/\">exercise<\/a>, you&#8217;ll find that you can move more fluidly and with greater control. This improved coordination should carry over into other aspects of your life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Improved_Athletic_Performance\"><\/span><strong>Improved Athletic Performance<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The wood chop exercise is a great way to improve your athletic performance. The explosive nature of the exercise can help to improve your speed, power, and agility. All of these are important for success in many sports.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Improved_Posture\"><\/span><strong>Improved Posture<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The wood chop exercise can help to <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/isometrics-exercise\/\">improve your posture<\/a> by strengthening the muscles that support your spine. This can help to prevent pain and injuries associated with poor posture.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fat_Loss\"><\/span><strong>Fat Loss<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The wood chop <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/elliptical-benefits-weight-loss\/\">exercise<\/a> is a great way to burn calories and fat. The more muscle groups you can target with an exercise, the more calories you&#8217;ll burn (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3296386\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). This makes the wood chop exercise an ideal choice for those looking to lose weight or body fat.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Read More:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/chest-stretches\/\">Full Chest Stretch Checklist: 3 Reasons, 7 Benefits, 11 Exercises<\/a><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Wood_Chop_Exercise_Benefits\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-38926 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5168-1024x576.png\" alt=\"wood chop exercise benefits\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5168.png 1024w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5168-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5168.png 768w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5168-1636x920.png 1636w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5168.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_Mistakes\"><\/span><strong>Common Mistakes<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a few <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/corrective-exercise\/\">common mistakes<\/a> that people make when doing the wood chop exercise. These include:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Not_Keeping_Your_Core_Engaged\"><\/span><strong>Not Keeping Your Core Engaged<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most important things to remember when doing wood chops is to keep your core engaged. This will help to stabilize your spine and prevent injury.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Not_Maintaining_Good_Form\"><\/span><strong>Not Maintaining Good Form<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many people tend to flex or bend their spine forward when doing wood chops. This puts unnecessary strain on the lower back and can lead to pain or injury. Be sure to keep your spine neutral and in alignment with your hips throughout the exercise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Swinging_The_Weight_Too_Much\"><\/span><strong>Swinging The Weight Too Much<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another common mistake is swinging the weight too much. This can cause you to lose balance and control of the weight. Be sure to keep your movements controlled and deliberate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Wood_Chop_Exercise_Benefits\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-38860 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5182-1024x576.png\" alt=\"wood chop exercise benefits\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5182.png 1024w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5182-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5182.png 768w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5182.png 1344w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Variations_Of_The_Wood_Chop_Exercise\"><\/span><strong>Variations Of The Wood Chop Exercise<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a few different ways that you can vary the wood chop exercise to challenge yourself further. These include:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Using_A_Resistance_Band\"><\/span><strong>Using A Resistance Band<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want to make the wood chop exercise more challenging, you can use a resistance band. This will provide resistance as you move the weight up and down, making the exercise more difficult.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Using_A_Dumbbell\"><\/span><strong>Using A Dumbbell<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another way to make the wood chop exercise more challenging is to use a dumbbell instead of a weight plate. This will require you to balance the weight, which will work your stabilizer muscles even more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Using_A_Medicine_Ball\"><\/span><strong>Using A Medicine Ball<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A medicine ball is another great option for the wood chop exercise. The weight of the ball will make the exercise more challenging, and you can also use it to target different muscle groups.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Doing_Single-Arm_Chops\"><\/span><strong>Doing Single-Arm Chops<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also do single-arm chops to target each side of your body individually. This is a great way to correct any imbalances you may have.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Doing_Lateral_Chops\"><\/span><strong>Doing Lateral Chops<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lateral chops are a variation of the wood chop exercise that challenges your muscles differently. Instead of moving the weight up and down, you move it from side to side. This is a great way to work your oblique muscles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Using_A_Cable_Machine\"><\/span><strong>Using A Cable Machine<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another variation of the wood chop exercise is to use a cable machine. This allows you to provide resistance in any direction, which can make the exercise more challenging.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Intense sweat sessions, working weight loss tips, lip-smacking recipes come in one package with the BetterMe app. And all of it is at your fingertips, <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Wood_Chop_Exercise_Benefits\">start transforming your life<\/a> now!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Wood_Chop_Exercise_Benefits\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-38836 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Frame-5113-1024x576.png\" alt=\"wood chop exercise benefits\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Frame-5113.png 1024w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Frame-5113-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Frame-5113.png 768w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Frame-5113-1636x920.png 1636w, https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Frame-5113.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Changing_Your_Stance\"><\/span><strong>Changing Your Stance<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can perform wood chops in a half-kneeling lunge position, a split stance position, or any other stance that you feel comfortable with. Each stance will target your muscles in a slightly different way.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, the split stance position will work your quads and glutes more than the other two positions. The half-kneeling lunge position will target your core muscles more than the other two positions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Controlling_Your_Tempo\"><\/span><strong>Controlling Your Tempo<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also control the tempo of your wood chops to make the exercise more challenging. For example, you can do slow and controlled chops to put more emphasis on your muscles. Or, you can do explosive chops to challenge your cardiovascular system.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Bottom_Line\"><\/span><strong>The Bottom Line<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The wood chop exercise is a great way to build strength, improve coordination, and burn fat. Be sure to avoid common mistakes, and vary the exercise to challenge yourself further. With regular practice, you&#8217;ll see significant improvements in your overall fitness level.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Wood_Chop_Exercise_Benefits\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Gif_Blue-1.gif\" alt=\"BetterMe\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your core is the center of your body. Included are all the muscles in your trunk, from your hips to your shoulders. A strong core is essential for daily activities such as sitting up, bending and lifting (9). The wood chop exercise is a great way to work your core muscles. This movement also challenges [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":42988,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[59],"tags":[],"coauthors":[125],"class_list":["post-42987","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-workout-plans"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v20.2.1 (Yoast SEO v25.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Wood Chop Exercise Benefits, Muscles Worked, And Variations - BetterMe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What are the \u2605 WOOD CHOP EXERCISE BENEFITS? \u27a4 This article covers the benefits, muscles worked, and variations of the wood chop exercise.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, nofollow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Wood Chop Exercise Benefits, Muscles Worked, And Variations\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What are the \u2605 WOOD CHOP EXERCISE BENEFITS? \u27a4 This article covers the benefits, muscles worked, and variations of the wood chop exercise.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"BetterMe Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/shutterstock_1937422330.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"667\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Eve Chalicha\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Eve Chalicha\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Eve Chalicha\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/d0a366c176f1718c3f976799259f8d76\"},\"headline\":\"Wood Chop Exercise Benefits, Muscles Worked, And Variations\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/\"},\"wordCount\":1647,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/shutterstock_1937422330.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Workout Plans\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"articleBody\":\"<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Your core is the center of your body. Included are all the muscles in your trunk, from your hips to your shoulders. A strong core is essential for daily activities such as sitting up, bending and lifting (<\/span><a href=\\\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/healthbeat\/the-real-world-benefits-of-strengthening-your-core\\\"><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">9<\/span><\/a><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">). <\/span><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">The wood chop exercise is a great way to work your core muscles. This movement also challenges your balance and coordination. Wood chops come in various forms. You can use a dumbbell, barbell, medicine ball, or kettlebell. You can also do this movement with just your body weight. <\/span><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Let's go through the basics of the wood chop including the benefits, muscles worked, and some <a href=\\\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/dumbbell-hamstring-exercises\/\\\">variations<\/a>.<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n\\r\\n<h2 style=\\\"text-align: center;\\\"><strong>What Is The Wood Chop Exercise?<\/strong><\/h2>\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Picture a log lying on the ground. You are going to pretend that the log is in front of you and you are going to chop it in half with an ax. The wood chop exercise simulates this <a href=\\\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/powerlifting-for-seniors\/\\\">motion<\/a>.<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">This movement involves both a rotation of the torso and a lifting of the arms overhead. Depending on the variation, you can use different types of equipment. For example, you could hold a medicine ball, dumbbell, or kettlebell.<\/span>\\r\\n<h2 style=\\\"text-align: center;\\\"><strong>How To Do The Wood Chop Exercise<\/strong><\/h2>\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">There are two major stages of the wood chop exercise- the lift and the chop.<\/span>\\r\\n<h3><strong>The Lift<\/strong><\/h3>\\r\\n<ol>\\r\\n \\t<li style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\" aria-level=\\\"1\\\"><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Begin by standing with your feet should ...\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/\",\"name\":\"Wood Chop Exercise Benefits, Muscles Worked, And Variations - BetterMe\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/shutterstock_1937422330.jpg\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00\",\"description\":\"What are the \u2605 WOOD CHOP EXERCISE BENEFITS? \u27a4 This article covers the benefits, muscles worked, and variations of the wood chop exercise.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/shutterstock_1937422330.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/shutterstock_1937422330.jpg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":667},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Blog\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Fitness\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/betterme-fitness\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Workout Plans\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/betterme-fitness\/workout-plans\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Wood Chop Exercise Benefits, Muscles Worked, And Variations\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/\",\"name\":\"BetterMe Blog\",\"description\":\"Health &amp; Fitness\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#organization\",\"name\":\"BetterMe\",\"alternateName\":\"Betterme Limited\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/BetterMe.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/BetterMe.png\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"BetterMe\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/betterme\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/betterme\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/betterme-apps\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/bettermetips\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC0svgcjc3jSgcryqo83spPQ\",\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@betterme.health.coaching\",\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/app\/betterme-health-coaching\/id1264546236\",\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.gen.workoutme&amp;amp;amp;amp;hl=en_US&amp;amp;amp;amp;gl=US\",\"https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q114895798\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/d0a366c176f1718c3f976799259f8d76\",\"name\":\"Eve Chalicha\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/b72cc9e130e83bb47d657b465602ccde\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/eve_chalicha-150x150.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/eve_chalicha-150x150.png\",\"caption\":\"Eve Chalicha\"},\"description\":\"Eve is a freelance writer from Nairobi, Kenya. She has a passion for promoting good health and well-being and believes that education is the first step towards changing lives for the better. For the past few years, Eve has been writing about topics such as nutrition, fitness, natural remedies, and more. Thanks to her background in Legal studies, she has a knack for research and always prioritizes scientific facts over hearsay. She is also very socially conscious and ensures that her pieces inform and empower readers. When she's not writing, Eve enjoys watching documentaries, going on nature walks, or just hanging out with friends.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/author\/evechalicha\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Wood Chop Exercise Benefits, Muscles Worked, And Variations - BetterMe","description":"What are the \u2605 WOOD CHOP EXERCISE BENEFITS? \u27a4 This article covers the benefits, muscles worked, and variations of the wood chop exercise.","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"nofollow"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Wood Chop Exercise Benefits, Muscles Worked, And Variations","og_description":"What are the \u2605 WOOD CHOP EXERCISE BENEFITS? \u27a4 This article covers the benefits, muscles worked, and variations of the wood chop exercise.","og_url":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/","og_site_name":"BetterMe Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching","article_modified_time":"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":667,"url":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/shutterstock_1937422330.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Eve Chalicha","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@betterme","twitter_site":"@betterme","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Eve Chalicha","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/"},"author":{"name":"Eve Chalicha","@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/d0a366c176f1718c3f976799259f8d76"},"headline":"Wood Chop Exercise Benefits, Muscles Worked, And Variations","dateModified":"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/"},"wordCount":1647,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/shutterstock_1937422330.jpg","articleSection":["Workout Plans"],"inLanguage":"en-US","articleBody":"<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your core is the center of your body. Included are all the muscles in your trunk, from your hips to your shoulders. A strong core is essential for daily activities such as sitting up, bending and lifting (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/healthbeat\/the-real-world-benefits-of-strengthening-your-core\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The wood chop exercise is a great way to work your core muscles. This movement also challenges your balance and coordination. Wood chops come in various forms. You can use a dumbbell, barbell, medicine ball, or kettlebell. You can also do this movement with just your body weight. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let's go through the basics of the wood chop including the benefits, muscles worked, and some <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/dumbbell-hamstring-exercises\/\">variations<\/a>.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>What Is The Wood Chop Exercise?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Picture a log lying on the ground. You are going to pretend that the log is in front of you and you are going to chop it in half with an ax. The wood chop exercise simulates this <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/powerlifting-for-seniors\/\">motion<\/a>.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This movement involves both a rotation of the torso and a lifting of the arms overhead. Depending on the variation, you can use different types of equipment. For example, you could hold a medicine ball, dumbbell, or kettlebell.<\/span>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>How To Do The Wood Chop Exercise<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are two major stages of the wood chop exercise- the lift and the chop.<\/span>\r\n<h3><strong>The Lift<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Begin by standing with your feet should ..."},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/","url":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/","name":"Wood Chop Exercise Benefits, Muscles Worked, And Variations - BetterMe","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/shutterstock_1937422330.jpg","dateModified":"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00","description":"What are the \u2605 WOOD CHOP EXERCISE BENEFITS? \u27a4 This article covers the benefits, muscles worked, and variations of the wood chop exercise.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/shutterstock_1937422330.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/shutterstock_1937422330.jpg","width":1000,"height":667},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Fitness","item":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/betterme-fitness\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Workout Plans","item":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/betterme-fitness\/workout-plans\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Wood Chop Exercise Benefits, Muscles Worked, And Variations"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#website","url":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/","name":"BetterMe Blog","description":"Health &amp; Fitness","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#organization","name":"BetterMe","alternateName":"Betterme Limited","url":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/BetterMe.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/BetterMe.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"BetterMe"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching","https:\/\/x.com\/betterme","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/betterme\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/betterme-apps","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/bettermetips\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC0svgcjc3jSgcryqo83spPQ","https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@betterme.health.coaching","https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/app\/betterme-health-coaching\/id1264546236","https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.gen.workoutme&amp;amp;amp;amp;hl=en_US&amp;amp;amp;amp;gl=US","https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q114895798"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/d0a366c176f1718c3f976799259f8d76","name":"Eve Chalicha","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/b72cc9e130e83bb47d657b465602ccde","url":"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/eve_chalicha-150x150.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/eve_chalicha-150x150.png","caption":"Eve Chalicha"},"description":"Eve is a freelance writer from Nairobi, Kenya. She has a passion for promoting good health and well-being and believes that education is the first step towards changing lives for the better. For the past few years, Eve has been writing about topics such as nutrition, fitness, natural remedies, and more. Thanks to her background in Legal studies, she has a knack for research and always prioritizes scientific facts over hearsay. She is also very socially conscious and ensures that her pieces inform and empower readers. When she's not writing, Eve enjoys watching documentaries, going on nature walks, or just hanging out with friends.","url":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/author\/evechalicha\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42987","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42987"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42987\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42988"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42987"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42987"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42987"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=42987"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}