The Fitness Guy - The key to big, broad shoulders

Q:  I’ve been told that working the shoulder muscles isn’t really necessary as those muscles are worked in the course of building other muscles like the back and chest. I’m starting to doubt that as my chest is looking really good but my shoulders haven’t grown at all. Help!

A: Big, broad shoulders on a man are a beautiful thing. They complement your arms, chest and back and punctuate a well-developed upper body.

 

While appearances are important, there are two reasons why strengthening the shoulder muscles is so important:

1) It’s the best defense we have to preventing painful, often debilitating injuries to the shoulder joint including dislocation or, worse, a torn rotator cuff; and

2) The shoulder muscles assist in most exercises for your chest, back and arms; consequently weak shoulders mean those muscle groups won’t reach their full potential.

The deltoid ( musculus deltoideus ), located between the neck and shoulders.

The Shoulder Press is -- hands-down -- the best exercise to develop the front and middle delts as well as the traps. Avoid this exercise, however, if you are experiencing any shoulder pain! My recommendation is to restrict overhead pressing exercises such as the Shoulder Press to just one per workout and instead utilize Cable or Dumbbell Flyes, Lateral Raises, Shrugs and other exercises to avoid putting too much stress on the shoulder joints.

Here are two of my favorite exercises to help build big, strong shoulders. Ask a personal trainer at your gym or training facility to recommend others.

SIDE-LYING LATERAL RAISE: Lie on your left side on an incline bench with a dumbbell in your right hand and your palm facing your thigh. Without bending your elbow, raise your arm until it’s in line with your shoulder as your rotate your palm outward.

CUBAN PRESS: Hold a pair of dumbbells at right angles above your shoulders, palms facing forward. Rotate your arms down so that your palms face the floor. Return to the starting position and lift your arms above your head. Repeat from the beginning.

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Side Lateral Raise Thighs Front - News


The Fitness Guy - The key to big, broad shoulders
The Fitness Guy - The key to big, broad shoulders

SIDE-LYING LATERAL RAISE: Lie on your left side on an incline bench with a dumbbell in your right hand and your palm facing your thigh. Without bending your elbow, raise your arm until it's in line with your shoulder as your rotate your palm outward.




Build Your Shoulder Muscle The Easy Way

The main shoulder muscles that concern bodybuilders are the deltoids and though they work densely with the arms and chest muscles, it is probable to isolate the delts in a training session. For beginners in body building it is important to use lighter weights for the usual shoulder-isolating exercises because the shoulder is not intentional for hard lifting in all directions.

Every weight coach and bodybuilder take their own style and techniques in workout each part of the body. That’s it – you will realize what’s the best works for you while you go through some various stages of learning. It is helpful, however, to take stock of your development every so regularly and carry out an examination of where you are and what changes, if any, are needed to go forward and upwards.

Percentage of this examination must have an assessment of the core exercises that draw up your bodybuilding development plan. In this article we’ll look at the shoulder workouts that have proved their worth to serious bodybuilders for many years.

The shoulders which covers aside the deltoids are consists of three separate segments.

1. The anterior or front deltoid allows you to lift your arm to the front.

2. The medial or middle deltoid allows you to lift your arm to the edge.

3. The posterior or rear deltoid allows you to pull your arm backwards when it is perpendicular to the torso.

All exercises must be performed to failure on one set of six to eight reps.

1. Lateral raises using dumbbell – it will develop the lateral head of the deltoid in this exercise.

- Hold the dumbbells at the sides with the palms facing the thighs.

- Raise the arms upward and to the sides until equal to the floor. Rest assure the elbows remain slightly bent.

- Pause.

- Lower with control to the beginning position.

2. Bended-over dumbbell lateral raises.

- Bending across at the waist with the knees slightly bended.

- Elevate the arms up and to the sides as high as possible.

- Pause.

- Lower with control to the beginning point.

When performing an an exercises, the front delt usually receives plenty of work with chest exercises such as the bench press and pushups, so you must listen to your body and make use of your common sense.

These are the recommended shoulder exercises for beginners:

1. Seated dumbbell press – 3 sets of 10-15 reps. The medial head was emphasized in this exercise.


Side Lateral Raise Thighs Front - Bookshelf

Max contraction training, the scientifically proven program for building muscle mass in minimum time

Max contraction training, the scientifically proven program for building muscle mass in minimum time

Side Lateral Raises (1 Set) Keeping your elbows locked, slowly raise the ... Then lower the dumbbells slowly the rest of the way down to your outer thighs. ...

Weight Training for Dummies

Weight Training for Dummies

Lateral raise The lateral raise works the center of your shoulder muscles. ... and bring the dumbbells together in front of the tops of your thighs. ...

Beginning Bodybuilding, Real Muscle/Real Fast

Beginning Bodybuilding, Real Muscle/Real Fast

Side lateral raises: This exercise effectively isolates and stimulates the lateral head ... grasp the dumbbells and hold them just in front of your thighs, ...

Backpacker

Backpacker

ALTERNATING FRONT LATERAL RAISES This works the muscles on the sides of your ... the weights should be in front of your upper thighs. STANDINC SIDE BENDS ...

The Winter Athlete, Secrets of Wholistic Fitness for Outdoor Performance

The Winter Athlete, Secrets of Wholistic Fitness for Outdoor Performance

Metaphysical: Same as Seated Dumbbell Side Lateral Raises. Bottom (start) position. Seated Dumbbell Press Plrysical: Sit on the edge of bench in front of a ...

Help Guide Directory


Shoulders Workout (2) – Side Lateral Raise or Side Arm Raise ...
Side Lateral Raise or Side Arm Raise is an isolation workout for shoulders. It targets the outer head of deltoid. Steps: Stand upright, with you...

Dumbbell Front Lateral Raise
Raise arms to side, slightly to front until shoulder height or slightly higher. ... Raise toward 10 to 11 o'clock with left arm and toward 1 to 2 o'clock ...

Lateral Raise Exercise for the Side Deltoid
The deltoid is a 3 headed muscle group comprised of the anterior, posterior and lateral deltoid. Naturally, developing all of the deltoid heads is necessary for

WORKOUTZ.COM - Arm Exercises - Front Shoulder Raise
Free exercise video demonstrations! Learn how to perform the front shoulder raise exercise.

Lateral Raises, Bent-Over, dumbell
Front Raises place primary emphasis on the anterior deltoids and ... Side-Lying Lateral Raises. Unlike standing raises, which gradually work the muscle to ...