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Lateral raise

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Muscles worked

High load
Delts · Side
Low load
Traps · Upper

Primary muscles

Secondary muscles

How to do it

Stand tall with a dumbbell in each hand and a small bend in the elbows. Lead with the elbows and raise the arms out to the sides until they reach shoulder height, then lower slowly. Use a weight you can lift without swinging — if the hips are helping, drop the load and let the side delts do the work.

Form cues

  • Lead with the elbows, not the hands
  • Stop at shoulder height

Safety

Talk to a professional before this exercise if you have any of the following:

Shoulder

This is general exercise reference, not medical advice. Stop and consult a qualified professional if an exercise causes pain, and never work through joint pain.

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