An exercise popular amongst bodybuilders, the tricep kickback is an exercise which involves elbow extension and thus recruits the triceps.
It’s an isolation movement where you cannot load up the triceps with a high load, compromising work load in terms of poundage.
It therefore does not add to tricep strength compared to exercises where you can safely load up the triceps, also giving the added benefit of hypertrophy.
The pump/burn you witness after repping out at a light weight gives a momentary and false sense of satisfaction that the triceps are working hard.
The triceps work in all pushing movements like heavy bench presses and I recommend more productive exercises like
close grip presses, loaded parallel bar dips and tricep pushdowns to be included as a part of your tricep workout.
Guest Article, Dietician Shwetha Bhatia