Lateral Raises with dumbbells
The lateral raise with dumbbells is an effective isolation exercise that primarily targets the lateral part of the shoulder muscles (M. deltoideus pars acromialis). This exercise helps to define the shoulders and develop a broader shoulder area. You maintain an upright posture and lift your arms sideways to shoulder height to optimally activate the muscles. You only need dumbbells, and beginners can easily perform it.
Necessary equipment

Lateral Raises with dumbbells - the correct execution
- Start in hip-width stance
- Hold the dumbbells in a neutral grip with arms outstretched next to your body
- Lift the dumbbells sideways in front of your body
- Arms remain stretched
- Shoulders remain low (depression)
- Bring the arms slowly and controlled back beside the hips
- Work in the largest possible range of motion
- Keep active tension in torso throughout
- The training weight for this exercise is the weight of a single dumbbell. Therefore, train with two dumbbells that weigh the indicated weight.
The exercise Lateral Raises is intended to be used as a hypertrophy exercise.
Which muscles are trained by Lateral Raises?
Primary trained muscles for Lateral Raises
Side Delts - The lateral part of the deltoid muscle, also known as the lateral shoulder, is located on the outside of the shoulder. It is the main muscle responsible for lifting the arm sideways. The lateral shoulder is particularly active when the arm is extended away from the body, such as during lateral raises or lifting objects to the side. It plays a key role in arm abduction and shoulder stabilization.
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