Shoulder DB lateral raise proper form

[greenleaf]

How high should the dumbbells go for proper form? I can feel my side delts working even when the dumbbells are at ears level. Is this too high?

Also, does it make any difference whether you are seated or do it standing?

[mybody001]

i go to the point where my shoulders tell me to stop, not as high as other people's because i'm not as flexible.

[DJAuto]

Most people stop when the arm is parallel.

[EPMD]

I also raise until my arms are parallel. Any higher than that and it becomes a trapezius exercise for me.

[baby matty]

parallel for me. i also like to use a light enough weight that i don't have to swing my body at all or use any momentum. try doing them sitting. i like to do the positive halkf of the rep very slow and controlled, with a short pause when my arms get to parallel. just be sure to emphasise perfect form and you will feel a great burn in your delt.

[superfunk]

You should also ask how low do the DB's go. Sometimes i start with the DB's touching in front. Other times i start with the DB's resting on the outside of my legs, feels completely different. It really makes my delts burn unlike the first method.

[djansen]

Dang! I just realized that I was shrugging the weight up to much instead of keeping my shoulders down. what a difference.

[Beachman]

You should also ask how low do the DB's go. Sometimes i start with the DB's touching in front. Other times i start with the DB's resting on the outside of my legs, feels completely different. It really makes my delts burn unlike the first method.

While I can see how this would be different with cables, I don't understand how this would make an difference with DBs because gravity is pulling them down and thus wouldn't affect your shoulders. Please aware me if I'm missing something.


OP I raise them until my elbows are a little above my shoulders, with the amount of weight used for raises I would not think sitting or standing would matter.


good luck

[call_me_pops]

How high should the dumbbells go for proper form? I can feel my side delts working even when the dumbbells are at ears level. Is this too high?

Also, does it make any difference whether you are seated or do it standing?

I think it's easier to "cheat" if you are standing. If you are standing, there can be a tendency to do a mini squat, come up on your toes or extend the back while performing the reps, especially towards the end of the set. Sitting eliminates the mini squat and coming up on your toes part, though one can still lean back to assist in the concentric part of the movement. Even the slightest of cheat movements I have mentioned assist in raising the dumbbells. Overall I would say there is more focus on the delts when seated because of this reason.

[lancs_hotpot]

The traps come into it too much when you go above paralell so best off stopping there. Seated is better in my opinion as it helps reduce momentum coming into the lift.

[-Lucifer]

I felt my anterior delts better once I started going above my head level.

[Memorial93]

are your arms supposed to be totally straight for these or can the elbows have a little bend in them?

[-Lucifer]

can the elbows have a little bend in them?

Yes.

[lancs_hotpot]

are your arms supposed to be totally straight for these or can the elbows have a little bend in them?

Have a look at blood and guts i feel theyre basically the perfect way. You might find out your own way but for me the way Dorian does them are the best.

[djansen]

Have a look at blood and guts i feel theyre basically the perfect way. You might find out your own way but for me the way Dorian does them are the best.

is that a movie? how does he do them?

[Memorial93]

Have a look at blood and guts i feel theyre basically the perfect way. You might find out your own way but for me the way Dorian does them are the best.

And thats why I asked. I saw dorian do these and he does them with straight arms. I just can't go any higher than 20 lbs with dumbbells.

[superfunk]

You should also ask how low do the DB's go. Sometimes i start with the DB's touching in front. Other times i start with the DB's resting on the outside of my legs, feels completely different. It really makes my delts burn unlike the first method.

While I can see how this would be different with cables, I don't understand how this would make an difference with DBs because gravity is pulling them down and thus wouldn't affect your shoulders. Please aware me if I'm missing something.

Next time you're in the gym try it out, i'm sure you'll feel a difference immediately. Ironically it won't be that different with cables as they have constant tension, it's DB's that feel really different because the shoulder tension is nil at the bottom and maxes at the top. If you start from the bottom its easy to introduce momentum into the movement, which isn't ideal.