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Exercise guide

Side Lateral Raise

How to do the Side Lateral Raise with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

IsolationDumbbellBeginnerPush
Primary muscles

Shoulders

Secondary

,

Equipment

Dumbbell

Step by step

How to do the Side Lateral Raise

  1. 1

    Pick a couple of dumbbells and stand with a straight torso and the dumbbells by your side at arms length with the palms of the hand facing you. This will be your starting position.

  2. 2

    While maintaining the torso in a stationary position (no swinging), lift the dumbbells to your side with a slight bend on the elbow and the hands slightly tilted forward as if pouring water in a glass. Continue to go up until you arms are parallel to the floor. Exhale as you execute this movement and pause for a second at the top.

  3. 3

    Lower the dumbbells back down slowly to the starting position as you inhale.

  4. 4

    Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Side Lateral Raise set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap, so your shoulders volume is visible at a glance, and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Related

More shoulders exercises

FAQ

Side Lateral Raise: common questions

What muscles does the Side Lateral Raise work?

The Side Lateral Raise primarily works the Shoulders.

Is the Side Lateral Raise suitable for beginners?

Yes. The Side Lateral Raise is a beginner-level exercise, so it's a solid choice if you're new to training. Start light and focus on the movement pattern before adding load.

What equipment do I need for the Side Lateral Raise?

To do the Side Lateral Raise you'll need a dumbbell.

Is the Side Lateral Raise a compound or isolation exercise?

The Side Lateral Raise is an isolation exercise, it targets the shoulders through a single joint, which makes it useful for focused, targeted work.

How do I do the Side Lateral Raise with correct form?

Pick a couple of dumbbells and stand with a straight torso and the dumbbells by your side at arms length with the palms of the hand facing you. This will be your starting position. Follow the full step-by-step above for the complete movement.

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