Exercises API

GET

Build workout routines matching any target muscle and equipment.

Exercises filters movements by target muscle group, equipment, and exercise name, returning matching exercises with their force type and required gear. Paid plans add step-by-step instructions, difficulty levels, and movement mechanics.

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Request
GETapi.apiverve.com/v1/exercises?muscle=biceps
Query parameters
Verification
Format

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Example
{
  "status": "ok",
  "error": null,
  "data": {
    "count": 5,
    "filteredOn": [
      "name",
      "muscle"
    ],
    "exercises": [
      {
        "name": "Barbell Ab Rollout",
        "force": "pull",
        "level": "intermediate",
        "mechanic": "compound",
        "equipment": "barbell",
        "instructions": [
          "For this exercise you will need to get into a pushup position, but instead of having your hands of the floor, you will be grabbing on to an Olympic barbell (loaded with 5-10 lbs on each side) instead. This will be your starting position.",
          "While keeping a slight arch on your back, lift your hips and roll the barbell towards your feet as you exhale. Tip: As you perform the movement, your glutes should be coming up, you should be keeping the abs tight and should maintain your back posture at all times. Also your arms should be staying perpendicular to the floor throughout the movement. If you don't, you will work out your shoulders and back more than the abs.",
          "After a second contraction at the top, start to roll the barbell back forward to the starting position slowly as you inhale.",
          "Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions."
        ],
        "muscle": "biceps"
      },
      {
        "name": "Barbell Ab Rollout - On Knees",
        "force": "pull",
        "level": "expert",
        "mechanic": "compound",
        "equipment": "barbell",
        "instructions": [
          "Hold an Olympic barbell loaded with 5-10lbs on each side and kneel on the floor.",
          "Now place the barbell on the floor in front of you so that you are on all your hands and knees (as in a kneeling push up position). This will be your starting position.",
          "Slowly roll the barbell straight forward, stretching your body into a straight position. Tip: Go down as far as you can without touching the floor with your body. Breathe in during this portion of the movement.",
          "After a second pause at the stretched position, start pulling yourself back to the starting position as you breathe out. Tip: Go slowly and keep your abs tight at all times."
        ],
        "muscle": "biceps"
      },
      {
        "name": "Barbell Bench Press - Medium Grip",
        "force": "push",
        "level": "beginner",
        "mechanic": "compound",
        "equipment": "barbell",
        "instructions": [
          "Lie back on a flat bench. Using a medium width grip (a grip that creates a 90-degree angle in the middle of the movement between the forearms and the upper arms), lift the bar from the rack and hold it straight over you with your arms locked. This will be your starting position.",
          "From the starting position, breathe in and begin coming down slowly until the bar touches your middle chest.",
          "After a brief pause, push the bar back to the starting position as you breathe out. Focus on pushing the bar using your chest muscles. Lock your arms and squeeze your chest in the contracted position at the top of the motion, hold for a second and then start coming down slowly again. Tip: Ideally, lowering the weight should take about twice as long as raising it.",
          "Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.",
          "When you are done, place the bar back in the rack."
        ],
        "muscle": "biceps"
      },
      {
        "name": "Barbell Curl",
        "force": "pull",
        "level": "beginner",
        "mechanic": "isolation",
        "equipment": "barbell",
        "instructions": [
          "Stand up with your torso upright while holding a barbell at a shoulder-width grip. The palm of your hands should be facing forward and the elbows should be close to the torso. This will be your starting position.",
          "While holding the upper arms stationary, curl the weights forward while contracting the biceps as you breathe out. Tip: Only the forearms should move.",
          "Continue the movement until your biceps are fully contracted and the bar is at shoulder level. Hold the contracted position for a second and squeeze the biceps hard.",
          "Slowly begin to bring the bar back to starting position as your breathe in.",
          "Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions."
        ],
        "muscle": "biceps"
      },
      {
        "name": "Barbell Curls Lying Against An Incline",
        "force": "pull",
        "level": "beginner",
        "mechanic": "isolation",
        "equipment": "barbell",
        "instructions": [
          "Lie against an incline bench, with your arms holding a barbell and hanging down in a horizontal line. This will be your starting position.",
          "While keeping the upper arms stationary, curl the weight up as high as you can while squeezing the biceps. Breathe out as you perform this portion of the movement. Tip: Only the forearms should move. Do not swing the arms.",
          "After a second contraction, slowly go back to the starting position as you inhale. Tip: Make sure that you go all of the way down.",
          "Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions."
        ],
        "muscle": "biceps"
      }
    ]
  }
}

About the Exercises API

Query by any of 17 supported muscle groups, such as chest, glutes, or triceps, with optional filters for exercise name and equipment. Every match includes the movement name, target muscle, required gear, and push or pull force direction. Paid plans include full step-by-step instructions, difficulty ratings from beginner to expert, and compound or isolation mechanics.

What people use it for

Workout Routine Generation
To build customized workout splits, fitness platforms query target muscle groups and organize matching push and pull exercises into balanced daily sessions.
Home Gym Filtering
When users have limited equipment like dumbbells or resistance bands, fitness coaches filter movements to assemble effective training routines without heavy gym machines.
Strength Training Logs
Personal training portals populate exercise pickers by muscle group so lifters can record exact movements and equipment during workout sessions.
Physical Therapy Prescriptions
Rehabilitation clinics look up targeted movements for specific muscle groups like the lower back or neck to create safe recovery regimens for patients.

Ways to call it

One endpoint, many ways in — REST with JSON, XML, YAML and CSV, plus GraphQL and an MCP interface for AI agents.

JSON
Default REST response
XML
Markup format
YAML
Human-readable
CSV
Tabular export
Beta
GraphQL
Query language
New
MCP
For AI agents

Other ways to use Exercises

Same data, same APIVerve account, same credit balance — one key works on all of them.

Questions.

Common questions about the Exercises API.

Read the docs →
What parameters can I filter exercises by?
You can filter by targeted muscle group, required equipment, and exercise name. The muscle parameter is required, while equipment and name are optional filters to narrow down the matching exercises.
Do I always have to specify a muscle group in the request?
Yes. The muscle group is a required parameter for every call, so you cannot request exercises without targeting a muscle group. You can then optionally narrow the list by specific exercise name or equipment.
Are exercise instructions and difficulty levels included on the Free plan?
No. The Free plan provides basic exercise details like name, targeted muscle, equipment, and motion force. Full step-by-step instructions, difficulty levels, and mechanics require Starter or any higher paid plan.
Which plan fits 20,000 exercise queries a month?
Starter covers this volume easily. Each request takes 2 credits, so 20,000 queries use 40,000 credits of Starter's 200,000 monthly allowance, working out to about $0.30 per 1,000 calls. The Free plan includes 100 calls per month for testing.
Can I display these exercises and instructions in a commercial fitness app?
Yes, provided you are on a paid plan. Any paid subscription allows you to display exercise instructions, muscle targets, and equipment data inside your product. You may not resell or distribute the raw exercise data as a standalone product.

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