Lateral Raises

[Verdelet]

So for the last 5 months i've been doing them, and i havent built any size or strength. There challenging like people say they are but i really dont seem to of got anything out of them, i dont even seem to get my shoulders (or side ones) pumped from that exercise, recently though (for the last month) i have been doing upright rows and size and strength has increased (i know other muscles are involved) and my shoulder are also getting pumped. So i was wondering if anyone has experienced this, or if they know why this is as my form is correct and i've switched up weights reps and sets and nothing helps. So should i just not do it?

Anyways i wondered if this was common, and if so whats the point in this exercise? endurance?

[in10city]

I've never benefited from laterals either. Wider grip upright rows is what I use as well. Make sure you're getting your fill of presses too.

You might try doing the laterals one arm at a time and leaning.

[tothemaxwell]

I would try building a solid muscle base first. you can go about this by utilizing some more compound exercises such as db presses, military press, seated MP (u can use the smith with this one as an option), and even a shoulder press machine. Once you have incorporated some of these into your workout, you'll definitely notice at least some strength increases. You don't have to drop the lat raises, but go with lighter weight until you increase overall shoulder strength.

don't forget to eat well.

[DOLT.]

I never liked standing laterals either. For shoulder size my keys are DB inclined, DB shoulder press, and front raises. I also used to do seated laterals which I found were more effective because on standing laterals sometimes you will kind of jump each rep to give a boost, and sitting down will eliminate this. But you should be adding some strength to all the exercises you do whether it is reps or weight.

[Bnizzle163]

You might try doing the laterals one arm at a time and leaning.

^^^^^^
Excellent advice. Grab ahold of something and lean away from it. This will increase the range of motion and tension on the medial head.
You could also vary the bend in your elbows during lateral raises. Ever seen bent arm lateral raises? I usually hit too much trap by doing this, but seem to be very effective for some people.

[Gaskicker]

I've gotten good results from holding the weight at the top for a second during each rep. Also move the DB in a contolled motion, do not swing it.

[nads786]

try higher reps (15-20) and less rest

those things really made my medial delts burn

or just keep doing upright rows, since you feel it more

or do both

[imasavage]

Try this:
Sit on a bench. Bend your torso so that you are 45 degrees. Have your hands behind your legs and then start the raise. As you raise, tilt your hand like you're pouring water from a pitcher.

[TRYIN2GETBIG88]

lateral raises arent for building stregnth or size for that matter.. they are an isolation move

[nads786]

lateral raises arent for building stregnth or size for that matter.. they are an isolation move

so isolations dont build size?

guess nobody should be doing curls either

stfu u clown

[DJAuto]

they are an isolation move

Exactly.

Isolation movements are bodybuilder's best friend in terms of specified targeting.

[ThickAsABrick]

lateral raises arent for building stregnth or size for that matter.. they are an isolation move

wow, strong misinformation

[Valkinator]

So for the last 5 months i've been doing them, and i havent built any size or strength. There challenging like people say they are but i really dont seem to of got anything out of them, i dont even seem to get my shoulders (or side ones) pumped from that exercise, recently though (for the last month) i have been doing upright rows and size and strength has increased (i know other muscles are involved) and my shoulder are also getting pumped. So i was wondering if anyone has experienced this, or if they know why this is as my form is correct and i've switched up weights reps and sets and nothing helps. So should i just not do it?

Anyways i wondered if this was common, and if so whats the point in this exercise? endurance?

I never had good results until I changed the way I first learned to do them. I lean slightly forward, and make sure my elbows stay higher than my hands, and hold for as long as I can at the top, then lower slowly. I don't bring them all the way back down either; this keeps stress on the medial head. Also, side laterals with a cable handle will keep constant stress on the head also.

[HighRevinSi]

try higher reps (15-20) and less rest

those things really made my medial delts burn

High Reps and little rest have worked very well for me too. Giant Drop Sets FTW! I'm sure there's a term for the following but I perform them on occasion. I do a regular drop set and pyramid down the weight and then go back up (25-20-15-20-25). Now that burns your medial delt. Changing the angle and grip have also worked very well; a semi-prone to prone grip and a hammer grip have worked well also.
For some reason my Shoulders have developed best by volume and little rest.

[Krunchy]

So for the last 5 months i've been doing them, and i havent built any size or strength. There challenging like people say they are but i really dont seem to of got anything out of them, i dont even seem to get my shoulders (or side ones) pumped from that exercise, recently though (for the last month) i have been doing upright rows and size and strength has increased (i know other muscles are involved) and my shoulder are also getting pumped. So i was wondering if anyone has experienced this, or if they know why this is as my form is correct and i've switched up weights reps and sets and nothing helps. So should i just not do it?

Anyways i wondered if this was common, and if so whats the point in this exercise? endurance?

If all else fails, just quit doing them for awhile. You're only going to get so much out of them. Let's face it, I doubt you'll increase more than 5-15 pounds in several months doing them, so while there may be multiple variations, perhaps you should just move on to a different exercise. Come back after a few weeks or a month and see how you feel then.

[tothemaxwell]

^^^^^^
Excellent advice. Grab ahold of something and lean away from it. This will increase the range of motion and tension on the medial head.
You could also vary the bend in your elbows during lateral raises. Ever seen bent arm lateral raises? I usually hit too much trap by doing this, but seem to be very effective for some people.

i'll superset the single arm lateral raises with two db's bending slightly forward every set. it hits my rear delts nicely.

[Defiant1]

So for the last 5 months i've been doing them, and i havent built any size or strength. There challenging like people say they are but i really dont seem to of got anything out of them, i dont even seem to get my shoulders (or side ones) pumped from that exercise, recently though (for the last month) i have been doing upright rows and size and strength has increased (i know other muscles are involved) and my shoulder are also getting pumped. So i was wondering if anyone has experienced this, or if they know why this is as my form is correct and i've switched up weights reps and sets and nothing helps. So should i just not do it?

Anyways i wondered if this was common, and if so whats the point in this exercise? endurance?

Use the exercises that work for you.

There are no mandatory exercises.

I'm the opposite, WITHOUT raises my shoulders don't grow for poop, but I would never assume that everyone is like me.

[imasavage]

Cables!

That's what I'm forgetting. Try cable side laterals with slow negatives. Those are by far my favorite shoulder exercise.

[DOLT.]

lateral raises arent for building stregnth or size for that matter.. they are an isolation move

Then what are they for?

[nads786]

High Reps and little rest have worked very well for me too. Giant Drop Sets FTW! I'm sure there's a term for the following but I perform them on occasion. I do a regular drop set and pyramid down the weight and then go back up (25-20-15-20-25). Now that burns your medial delt. Changing the angle and grip have also worked very well; a semi-prone to prone grip and a hammer grip have worked well also.
For some reason my Shoulders have developed best by volume and little rest.

ya my medial delts have grown a good amount, and while on a cut

bc of high rep laterals

another trick i learned is to put the db in the crook of your elbow to do L laterals, works great, gets rid of the wrist

[Gaskicker]

so isolations dont build size?

guess nobody should be doing curls either

stfu u skinny clown

fixed

[BigDrew77]

A common error I see on lateral raises is the resistance used. It's one of those exercises where ego gets in the way and people end up using too much weight. I fell into this trap but then dropped the weight (and ego) and saw some of my best results. Try backing off the weight and tightening up the form.

[hulkout]

A lot of people don't get results from lateral raises because almost nobody knows how to do them properly! I can tell you right now that the technique you always read about in the magazines is a load of crap! To do them properly, jam your pinkies against the inside of the plate (so that you're pouring milk from a jug). With your legs slightly bent, bend over and get a bit of momentum going as you lift the dumbbells up. Make sure you don't use too much momentum and heave them up though. At the top, dip your upper body again slightly in order to "crunch" your shoulders for a stronger contraction. In doing this, you're sort of pressing the dumbbells out to the side in the top position. Lower the dumbbells and repeat. That's how you do laterals if you want to build real muscle from them. Otherwise, you're wasting your time.

[Uncle Ben]

Try L-laterals.

They made a HUGE difference in my shoulders.

[gabba]

I personally love them and get good gains, then again I aim for form rather than as much weight as possible.

[low blow]

Then what are they for?

presses = size, but no shape. raises = tone/seperation

[hulkout]

presses = size, but no shape. raises = tone/seperation

This statement is ridiculous. A muscle either contracts or it doesn't. That means it either stimulates growth or it doesn't There is no such thing as shaping or toning exercises. There are only poor and inefficient exercises. Lateral raises will build muscle mass. The problem is that most people don't do them properly so they believe it's a shaping exercise. As far as presses giving you size but no shape, that is equally ridiculous. All muscles have shape to them or do you think your deltoid muscles are shaped like squares. Take a look at some of the physiques on olympic lifters and tell me they don't have fantastic looking physiques. This is one of those old myths that just won't die. By the way, I have nothing personally against you. It's just that this myth has been around for so many years, it drives me crazy.

[low blow]

This statement is ridiculous. A muscle either contracts or it doesn't. That means it either stimulates growth or it doesn't There is no such thing as shaping or toning exercises. There are only poor and inefficient exercises. Lateral raises will build muscle mass. The problem is that most people don't do them properly so they believe it's a shaping exercise. As far as presses giving you size but no shape, that is equally ridiculous. All muscles have shape to them or do you think your deltoid muscles are shaped like squares. Take a look at some of the physiques on olympic lifters and tell me they don't have fantastic looking physiques. This is one of those old myths that just won't die. By the way, I have nothing personally against you. It's just that this myth has been around for so many years, it drives me crazy.

I have higher rep power, I know what im talking about































(was also just joking)

[CaptainGorgeous]

OP, a lot of people do side laterals incorrectly. Make sure your form is right.

[Leyton Stone_old]

...Take a look at some of the physiques on olympic lifters and tell me they don't have fantastic looking physiques...

They secretly do curls and side laterals when no one is looking ;-)