Sit in a leverage lateral-raise machine and lift your upper arms out to the sides to work the shoulder muscles. The movement abducts the arms at the shoulder while the machine provides guided resistance.
How to do the Lateral Raise (Machine)#
- Adjust the seat and weight, then sit so the machine pad contacts the outside of your upper arms.
- Brace your core and keep your chest upright throughout the movement.
- Drive your upper arms outward and upward until they reach about shoulder height.
- Hold that top position for one short count.
- Lower the arms slowly and under control back to the starting position.
Muscles worked#
- Primary: Side delts
- Secondary: Traps
Common mistakes#
- Leaning back or using body momentum to help lift the weight.
- Pulling with the hands instead of lifting from the elbows/upper arms.
- Shrugging the shoulders or lifting well above shoulder level.
- Dropping the weight quickly on the way down.
- Seat set incorrectly so the pad does not sit on the upper arms
