The Lateral Raise primarily works the lateral deltoid, which is the middle portion of the deltoid muscle. The anterior (front) deltoid, posterior (back) deltoid, upper trap, supraspinatus (a rotator cuff muscle) and serratus anterior (muscles along your ribs under your armpit) also contribute to the movement.
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How do you do overhead shoulder lateral raises?

What muscles does lateral side raise work?
A lateral raise works your shoulder muscles as well as your triceps. To do this exercise: Stand or sit with your arms at your sides and a dumbbell in each hand. With your palms facing in toward your body and your elbows slightly bent, raise the dumbbells so your arms are parallel to the floor.
Is overhead press better than lateral raises?
If time is an issue overhead presses may be a useful option for effectively hitting more muscles in a shorter amount of time. However, side lateral raises are invaluable for deeply sculpting the shape, density and strength of the side shoulder muscle as well as strengthening connective tissue at the shoulder joint.
Why is lateral raise so hard?
You need a lot of force. “In a lateral raise, when your arms are fully extended, parallel to the ground and at shoulder height, the ‘moment arm’ is at its longest,” Chrismas explains. That’s how far away the joint is from the weight it’s moving โ in a lateral raise, the weight is far away from the shoulder.
Should you go heavy on lateral raises?
It says that longer the lever (arm, further away from your body), the more difficult it will be to lift the weight. This is the reason why we bend our arms when we lift heavy during Lateral Raises- to make it easier.
Do lateral raises build big shoulders?
As well as stronger, larger shoulders, the benefits of the lateral raise extend to increased shoulder mobility. If you brace correctly throughout the lift, your core also benefits, and muscles in the upper back, arms and neck will also feel the strain after a few sets.
Is lateral raises enough for shoulders?
Dudes love hitting shoulders. Sadly though, most don’t go beyond shoulder presses and lateral raises. These are the 2 most overdone exercises on shoulder day. Not that these are bad exercises but these are definitely not enough for complete shoulder development.
Are lateral raises effective?
With the proper form, lateral raises enhance muscle growth (a process known as hypertrophy) and increase your range of motion. Lighter-weight dumbbell exercises like lateral raises are a great way to build your strength for more rigorous exercises like shoulder presses and bench presses with a barbell.
How heavy should a lateral raise be?
You can do a standard side lat raise with some trusty dumbbells. Go for a weight of 2 to 10 pounds each, depending on your fitness level.
Should you lean forward when doing lateral raises?
You don’t want to lean too far forward or you are going to put strain on your lower back. Yet a slight lean forward is important for making sure you can have proper mechanics for this exercise.
Do lateral raises hit rear delts?
The shoulder muscle is made up of 3 heads โ anterior deltoid, medial deltoid, and posterior deltoid. The primary muscle worked in the Lateral Raise exercise is the medial or middle deltoid. This is achieved by lifting the arms to the sides. Lifting the arms to different directions will change the target muscles.
Are lateral raises a waste of time?
1. Lateral Raises. “This can lead to sudden pain or wear-and-tear injuries to the shoulder over time,” she says. “That’s most true when performed with a typical palms-down grip.”
Can you build big shoulders without presses?
The dumbbell scaption works with your body. Instead of pressing overhead and pinching your joints, you’ll only lift the dumbbell to shoulder height and build the same muscles without stress and pain. Also, you’ll lift the weights slightly in front of you, which matches the angle of your shoulder blades.
Is overhead press enough for side delts?
There are only a few lifts that work the side delts: The Overhead Press (Main Lift) The Upright Row (Assistance Lift) The Lateral Raise (Accessory Lift) <= this is the key.
Why wont my side delts grow?
The last reason has to do with how often you’re training your side delts. Most people aren’t training them enough – often just once weekly. But the side delts recover quickly. And with the right programming, they can be trained 2 to 3 times a week to stimulate more growth.
Should arms be straight on lateral raises?

Why won’t my shoulders grow?
The main condition for constant muscle hypertrophy is increasing weights. If you don’t change the weights which you lift, your shoulders stop growing. In order to prevent this, you should increase weight training by training. Certainly it may entail the decrease of reps in a set, but it is not a problem.
Is 30 lb lateral raise good?
How much should I be able to Dumbbell Lateral Raise? (lb) What is the average Dumbbell Lateral Raise? The average Dumbbell Lateral Raise weight for a male lifter is 34 lb (1RM). This makes you Intermediate on Strength Level and is a very impressive lift.
Do shoulders respond better to higher reps?
Delts generally respond better to high reps, though the front portion can respond well to lower reps. This is why delt-dominant bench pressers tend to have large front delts. But when training to get that rounded-shoulders look, higher reps of isolation work is best.
How many reps should you do for lateral raises?
Perform lateral raises for two to three sets of 15-20 repetitions. Shoot for a burn across the middle deltoid and difficulty reaching full range of motion as a sign that you’re reaching fatigue.
How many times a week can I do lateral raises?
Lat raises are a great shoulder exercise to add to your weekly strength training routine. You can perform lat raises two or three times a week. Be sure to give yourself at least a day or two between performing lat raises to allow your muscles to rest and recover.
How do I make my shoulders wider?
- Try side laterals. One good exercise for building up your shoulder muscles is the side lateral raise.
- Perform upright rows with a wide grip.
- Try some rear deltoid raises.
- Perform front deltoid raises.
- Do overhead presses.
- Try wide-grip pull-ups.
- Perform pike-style push-ups.
What is an Egyptian lateral raise?
Put the cable between your legs and grab the handle with your arm that isn’t holding onto the machine. With each rep, pull the cable up to the top, shoulder height or close to it. Bring the cable down slowly, until your hand reaches your sides. Repeat for 10-20 reps on each arm.
Is 15kg lateral raise good?
How much should I be able to Dumbbell Lateral Raise? (kg) What is the average Dumbbell Lateral Raise? The average Dumbbell Lateral Raise weight for a male lifter is 15 kg (1RM). This makes you Intermediate on Strength Level and is a very impressive lift.