An apparatus for exercising the upper limbs has been designed to meet the requirements particularly of obese and hypertensive people, handicapped people, amputees, people who suffered accidents, people having professional diseases, elderly people, healthy people, employees (typists) and other needing physical exercises, but who due to their own limitations have difficulty to use regular exercises apparatuses; said apparatus comprising essentially: unit for exercising the upper limbs (1 ), over which the individual or patient works out directly; and frame (20), where the unit (1 ) suitable to the individual or patient limitation is mounted and facilitates their access to the unit (1 ) during exercise; said unit (1 ) essentially formed by: a pair of opposite handles (2) integral to an axis (3); an exercise load mechanism; a torque adjusting device (6); and casing (7), where the whole mechanism is housed and mounted, said casing being provided with a support part (8), which is mounted on a corresponding support part of the frame (20).