Dumbbell lateral raise
General guidance. This page has not been reviewed by a qualified professional yet.
Dumbbell lateral raise. Raise arms to the sides to around shoulder height and lower slowly.
How to do this exercise: Dumbbell lateral raiseSetup · movement · load
- Set your position
Stand firmly holding light dumbbells by your sides with softly bent elbows. Keep shoulders relaxed.
- Make the movement
Raise arms to the sides to around shoulder height and lower slowly.
- Breathe and control the pace
Breathe out during the harder part and in on the return. Control the return instead of dropping the weight. Two reps in reserve means you could do about two more clean repetitions.
Do not swing your torso or shrug toward your ears.
Log the weight of ONE dumbbell. Two 8 kg dumbbells are logged as 8 kg, not 16 kg.
For your first use, ask staff to show you the machine settings and safety release. Stop for sharp pain. This basic guide is awaiting professional review.
- Type
- Strength
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Sides
- Both sides together
- How load is measured
- Load per hand
Main muscles
Side deltoids
Supporting muscles
Trapezius
Equipment
Load values are only comparable on the same exercise and equipment.
How to do it
- Stand firmly holding light dumbbells by your sides with softly bent elbows. Keep shoulders relaxed.
- Raise arms to the sides to around shoulder height and lower slowly.
Common mistakes
- Do not swing your torso or shrug toward your ears.
Safety notes
- Start with easy resistance and breathe continuously. Stop for sharp pain; ask gym staff to demonstrate unfamiliar equipment.
Alternatives and variations
- Machine lateral raise – Alternative
- Cable lateral raise – Alternative