Dumbbell Lateral Raise

Stand with feet hip-width apart and hold a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing inward. Start with arms down by your sides. Keeping a slight bend in your elbows, lift both arms straight out to the sides until they reach shoulder level. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the dumbbells back down to starting position. Repeat for desired number of repetitions.

How to perform the Dumbbell Lateral Raise

  1. Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Dumbbell Lateral Raise using your dumbbell.
  2. Brace and execute. Brace your core, control the descent, and move through a full pain-free range of motion while emphasizing your deltoids.
  3. Reset. Reverse the movement under control and reset between repetitions, keeping your form crisp on every rep.

Coaching cues

  • Move with intent — every rep should feel deliberate, not rushed.
  • Drive force through your deltoids rather than momentum.
  • Keep your breathing steady: exhale on the hard part, inhale on the reset.

Common mistakes

  • Using too much weight and losing positional control.
  • Cutting the range of motion short and missing the target muscle.
  • Letting your spine round or hyperextend instead of staying neutral.

Detailed cues, common mistakes, and demonstration video are available in the Fitly app.

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Variations of Dumbbell Lateral Raise

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