Lying Side Raises For Shoulders

How about a side delt exercise that is comfortable to do and less prone to unconsciously cheating than others? Here are lying side raises for the lateral shoulder muscle.

Lying Side Raises

When it comes to working on the lateral delts, you have already seen me demonstrate side raises, but not everyone likes that exercise. Some people feel uncomfortable doing both sides simultaneously. Others have a tendency to cheat by using the upper body to gain momentum.

Lying side raises address both problems. Done on the floor, they allow less room for cheating and you get to fully concentrate on the side you work on:

It Takes Three To Tango

I know guys who like to concentrate on just training the lateral delts, because they are what give the shoulders the most outward “bulk.” But overdeveloping that area and neglecting the other two parts of the shoulder muscle (the rear and front) can lead to mechanical problems in the shoulder joints.

Therefore don’t forget the complete picture if you go the isolation exercise route with your shoulders. Have one exercise each for all its three portions. In combination with the lying side raises, for example, you can do front raises and lying rear delt raises.