What Are The Best Lateral Delt Exercises?

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lateral delt exercises

Our Summary And Answer: Best Lateral Delt Exercises

 

Lateral delt exercises are a great way to build muscle and strength in your shoulders. Some of the best lateral delt exercises include lateral raises, front raises, rear delt flys, and bent-over lateral raises. Lateral raises are a great exercise for isolating the lateral delts and building up strength.

 

Front raises are also great for isolating the delts, but they also work the pecs and anterior delts. Rear delt flys are a great exercise for targeting the posterior delts, and they also help to build up muscular endurance. Bent-over lateral raises are a great exercise for both the anterior and posterior delts, and they also help to strengthen the core.

 

All of these exercises are great for building strength and muscle in the shoulders, so it’s up to you to decide which ones you want to include in your workout routine.

 

The lateral deltoid muscles are often neglected in favor of the larger and more visible anterior and posterior deltoid muscles. However, the lateral deltoids are responsible for many of the shoulder joints’ movements and should not be ignored. In this post, we will discuss some of the best exercises to work your lateral delts.

 

Let’s get started!

 

What Are The Lateral Deltoid Muscles?

The lateral deltoid muscles are a group of three muscles that make up the round, fleshy part of the shoulder. The first muscle is the largest and most superficial, and it attaches to the clavicle (collarbone).

 

The second muscle is smaller and deeper, and it runs from the scapula (shoulder blade) to the humerus (upper arm bone). The third muscle is also tiny and deep and attaches to the humerus. Together, these muscles help to lift the arm out to the side. When they contract, they also help to stabilize the shoulder joint.

 

What Are The Best Exercises For Lateral Delts?

There are a number of exercises that can help to strengthen and develop the lateral deltoid muscles. Here are some of the best:

 

1. Lateral Raise: This is a great exercise for targeting the lateral delts. To do this exercise, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. Hold a dumbbell in each hand with your palms facing your thighs. Keep your elbows straight, and raise your arms out to the side until they are parallel to the ground. Slowly lower them back down to the starting position.

 

2. Front Raise: This exercise also works the anterior deltoid muscle, but it also activates the lateral delts to a certain extent. To do this exercise, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. Hold a dumbbell in each hand with your palms facing your thighs. Keeping your elbows straight, raise your arms out in front of you until they are parallel to the ground. Slowly lower them back down to the starting position.

 

3. Rear Delt Fly: This exercise is great for targeting the posterior deltoid muscle, but it also activates the lateral delts. To do this exercise, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. Hold a dumbbell in each hand with your palms facing your thighs. Bend forward at the hips, keeping your back straight, and raise your arms out to the side until they are parallel to the ground.

 

4. Bent-Over Lateral Raise: This exercise is similar to the rear delt fly, but it puts more emphasis on the lateral delts. To do this exercise, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. Bend forward at the hips, keeping your back straight, and hold a dumbbell in each hand with your palms facing your thighs. Raise your arms out to the side until they are parallel to the ground.

 

5. Lateral Raise with Band: This exercise is great for those who don’t have access to dumbbells. To do this exercise, stand on the center of a resistance band and hold the handles with your palms facing your thighs. Keep your elbows straight, and raise your arms out to the side until they are parallel to the ground. Slowly lower them back down to the starting position.

 

These are just a few of the best exercises for targeting the lateral deltoid muscles. Be sure to include some of these in your shoulder workouts!

 

Tips and Tricks When Training The Lateral Delts

Here are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind when you’re training your lateral delts:

 

1. Use A Light Weight: When doing lateral raises, it’s important to use a lightweight. This exercise is meant to target the small muscles of the shoulder, so using heavy weight will just put a strain on your joints.

 

2. Use A Resistance Band: If you don’t have access to dumbbells, you can use a resistance band to do lateral raises. Simply stand on the center of the band and hold the handles with your palms facing your thighs.

 

3. Keep Your Elbows Straight: When doing any of the exercises listed above, be sure to keep your elbows straight. This will help to target the lateral delts more effectively.

 

4. Don’t Swing: When doing lateral raises, it’s important not to swing the weight up. This takes the emphasis off of the lateral delts and puts it on the bigger muscles of the back. Instead, focus on using your lateral delts to raise the weight.

 

5. Don’t Lock Your Knees: When doing any of the exercises listed above, be sure to keep your knees slightly bent. Locking your knees puts a strain on your joints and takes the emphasis off of the muscles you’re trying to target.

 

6. Breathe: As with any exercise, it’s important to breathe when doing lateral raises. inhale as you raise the weights and exhale as you lower them back down.

 

7. Go Slow: When doing lateral raises, it’s important to go slow and focus on the contraction of the muscles. This will help to ensure that you’re targeting the lateral delts effectively.

 

8. Don’t Cheat: When doing lateral raises, it’s important not to cheat by swinging the weights up. This takes the emphasis off of the lateral delts and puts it on the bigger muscles of the back. Instead, focus on using your lateral delts to raise the weight.

 

9. Use A Full Range of Motion: When doing lateral raises, it’s important to use a full range of motion. This means raising the weights all the way up until your arms are parallel to the ground.

 

10. Incorporate These Exercises Into Your Shoulder Workouts: Be sure to incorporate some of these exercises into your shoulder workouts. This will help to ensure that you’re properly targeting your lateral delts.

 

Frequently Asked Questions : Best Lateral Delt Exercises

What Is The Lateral Delt Muscle And Its Function?

The lateral delt muscle is a small triangular muscle located on the outermost part of the shoulder. Its main function is to stabilize the shoulder joint and allow for a normal range of motion. The lateral delt is also responsible for drawing the arm away from the body (abduction) and rotating the arm outward (external rotation).

 

When these muscles are weak, it can lead to pain and instability in the shoulder joint. For athletes or people who regularly perform overhead motions, strengthening the lateral delts is essential in preventing injuries. There are a variety of exercises that target these muscles, such as dumbbell later raises, cable later raises, and side-lying dumbbell later raises. Incorporating these exercises into your routine will help to keep your shoulders healthy and strong.

 

Why Should You Train Your Lateral Delts?

The lateral deltoid is the primary muscle responsible for lateral (side) raises. This muscle is key in developing that coveted “capped” look to the shoulders, where the middle of the shoulder appears rounded. Building up the lateral delts will give your shoulders a broader appearance and make your waist look smaller in comparison. But lateral delts are not only good for aesthetics they’re also important for functional strength.

 

Strong lateral delts will help to stabilize your shoulder joint and protect against injuries. So if you’re looking to build a strong, muscular physique, be sure to include lateral delt exercises in your workout routine.

 

Final Thoughts : Best Lateral Delt Exercises

We hope this article has helped you better understand the lateral delt muscle and its function. As you can see, training this muscle is important for both aesthetics and functional strength. Be sure to include some of the best lateral delt exercises in your workout routine to achieve the results you desire!

 

 

lateral delt exercises

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