Brachioradialis

The brachioradialis is technically a forearm muscle, but its primary function is elbow flexion. It's the dominant flexor when the forearm is in pronated position (palm down) or neutral (palm inward). When you do a reverse barbell curl or a hammer curl, the brachioradialis works more than the biceps. It's also responsible for the volume that fills the area between the elbow and the wrist: arms that look 'full' all the way down owe a lot to the brachioradialis.

The most effective exercises for the brachioradialis are reverse curls (pronated grip) with barbell or dumbbells, hammer curls, and the Zottman curl, which combines a supinated concentric and a pronated eccentric. All grip-intensive exercises like farmer's walks, deadlifts, and pull-ups also involve it significantly. If your forearms are the visual weak point of your arm, the brachioradialis is the muscle to invest in.

A strong brachioradialis isn't just an aesthetic matter. It contributes to grip strength and elbow stability in all pulling movements. If your grip gives out before your back in deadlifts or rows, the brachioradialis could be a weak link. Train it with 2-3 sets of reverse or hammer curls at the end of your session, twice a week. It's a muscle that responds well to medium-to-high reps too.