Side Lying External Rotation

Lie on your side with your legs stacked and knees bent at a 90-degree angle. Keep your elbow close to your body and bent at a 90-degree angle.

  1. Rotate your shoulder outward, lifting your forearm towards the ceiling.
  2. Hold the position for a moment, then lower your forearm back to the starting position.
  3. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions before switching sides.

How to perform the Side Lying External Rotation

  1. Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Side Lying External Rotation using your body weight.
  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 Side Lying External Rotation

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