Best Deltoid Exercises: 9 Shoulder Workouts for Muscle & Strength

man-performing-shoulder-press-one-of-the-best-deltoid-exercises

It is easy to get caught up in trying out all the exercises you come across on the internet, some of which may not be effective. To save you time and eliminate guesswork from your shoulder workouts, I have created a definitive guide to the best deltoid exercises. This guide takes into consideration muscle engagement, versatility, and the strength and conditioning benefits of each exercise.

Anatomy of the Delt Muscles 

A side profile of a human figure from the waist up, focusing on the deltoid muscles with semi-transparent overlays. The anterior deltoid is highlighted in green at the front, while the lateral head in orange is visible at the mid-region of the shoulder. The figure's skin tone is realistic with detailed muscular definition against a solid black background. The posterior deltoid is not shown in this side view.

The deltoid muscle is a crucial part of your shoulder that is responsible for various upper-body movements.

This muscle is divided into three distinct heads:

  • Anterior Deltoid: Located at the front, it’s crucial for shoulder flexion movements like lifting your arms in front of you.
  • Middle Deltoid: This part aids in lifting the arm to the side, contributing to the shoulder width and overall shoulder strength.
  • Posterior Deltoid: At the back of the shoulder, it’s involved in movements like extending the arms backwards and stabilizing the shoulder joint.

The reason you must understand the three heads and how they work is because the different exercises that we are going to cover hit different muscle groups in the shoulder.

What Should You Expect?

  • We’ll first explore a variety of deltoid exercises, ensuring everyone can find a convenient option.
  • The exercises will be methodically structured, starting from machine-based routines to free weights and bodyweight exercises.
  • After covering different exercise types, we’ll focus on targeted areas of the deltoid, including anterior, lateral (middle), and posterior (rear), for balanced shoulder development.
  • To conclude, we’ll assess and showcase the most effective exercises, aiming to pinpoint the best for deltoid muscle activation and overall shoulder enhancement.
  • Stick around until the end for our final recommendations on the top exercises that will elevate your shoulder training regimen.

If you’re in a hurry, here are the most effective exercises for your deltoids, targeting the different heads. Pick one for each head.

Muscle GroupBest Exercises
Anterior DeltoidsSeated Dumbbell Press, Seated Barbell Press, Standing Dumbbell Shoulder Press
Lateral DeltoidsDumbbell Lateral Raise, Lying Inclined Lateral Raise, Cable Lateral Raise
Rear DeltoidsCable Rear Delt Flyes, Reverse Pec Deck Machine
A table summarising the top picks for the best deltoid exercises

The Different Categories of Deltoid Exercises?

If you’re new to fitness or trying to figure out the best exercise to grow your shoulders, you may have come across several exercises performed in different ways, which can be a little confusing.

There are various ways to target your deltoids, whether you have access to machines and cables or prefer bodyweight exercises.

Deltoid Machine Exercises

Machine exercises are a great starting point for beginners or those seeking controlled and targeted deltoid training.

They provide stability and can help isolate the deltoid muscles effectively, making them a staple in shoulder muscle workouts.

They’re particularly useful for those new to fitness or recovering from shoulder injuries.

Popular ones are the shoulder press machine and the peck-deck machine (rear-delt)

Deltoid Dumbbell Exercises

Dumbbells provide flexibility and freedom of movement, making them perfect for working out your deltoid muscles.

They allow for a wide range of motion, which is essential for muscle growth and activation.

Exercises like the dumbbell front raise, dumbbell lateral raise, and seated rear dumbbell fly are perfect for engaging the anterior, lateral, and posterior deltoids.

Deltoid Cable Exercises

Cable exercises offer constant tension throughout the movement, which is beneficial for muscle activation.

These exercises are excellent for both muscle building and functional strength, and they can be easily adjusted to suit different fitness levels.

Examples are the cable lateral raise and the cable front raise.

Free Weight Exercises

Free-weight exercises, including those with barbells, are fundamental for building strong shoulders.

They not only work the deltoids but also engage stabilizing muscles, contributing to overall shoulder health and strength.

The popular exercises in this category are the barbell overhead press and the upright barbell row.

Deltoid Bodyweight Exercises

No equipment? No problem.

Some bodyweight exercises can effectively target the deltoid muscle.

This is perfect if you prefer working out at home or don’t have access to gym equipment.

Personally, bodyweight exercises were my starting point before I signed up for my gym membership. It insanely boosted my strength.

Movements like handstand push-ups and pike push-ups are challenging ways to strengthen the deltoids.

This set of exercises comprises the majority of deltoid exercises that can be done at home.

Now that you understand the different categories of exercises for the deltoids, let’s move on to the next section, where we will focus on exercises specific to each part of the deltoid

Best Deltoid Exercises Targeting the 3 Heads

In this section, I will highlight the top exercises that target the three heads of the shoulders. Performing any of these would effectively target the part in question.

Note: Towards the end, I will reveal the best deltoid exercises backed by research to help you achieve the coveted 3D look on your shoulders.

Anterior Deltoid Exercises

These exercises target the anterior (front) part of your deltoid muscles.

Many exercises are thought to be effective in hitting the front deltoid, but here are the most effective and popular ones.

1. Seated Dumbbell Press

  • This is the one exercise that is very popular in the fitness world because it is performed while seated.
  • Sitting offers a stable position to isolate the front deltoids without back support.
  • It is therefore easy to increase the amount of weight as you get stronger.
  • How to execute: Sit on a bench, dumbbells at shoulder height, palms facing forward. Press upwards until arms are extended, then lower back.

2. Seated Barbell Press

  • This is another shoulder exercise that is performed while seated.
  • The difference from the first is that it utilizes the barbell.
  • The barbell allows for heavier lifting, engaging more muscle fibers in the anterior deltoids.
  • To perform this exercise, sit with a barbell in front of your shoulders. Press upwards, extending your arms, then lower to the starting position.

3. Standing Dumbbell Press

  • This exercise is similar to the first above, just that it is performed while standing.
  • Standing engages the core muscles, offering a full-body workout while targeting the anterior deltoids.
  • The downside is that achieving progressive overload is challenging.
  • To execute, stand with feet shoulder-width apart and dumbbells at shoulder height. Press up until arms are fully extended, then lower.

4. Standing Shoulder Barbell Press

  • It incorporates more of the upper body and improves overall balance and posture.
  • To perform the exercise, stand with your legs shoulder-width apart, holding a barbell at shoulder level. Press the barbell up until your arms are straight, then bring it back down slowly.

Lateral Deltoid Exercises

The side delts play a huge role in achieving wide shoulders for a 3D look.

The most popular and effective exercises targeting the lateral deltoids are:

1. Dumbbell Lateral Raise

  • The dumbbell lateral raise is a classic exercise for targeting the middle deltoids.
  • It involves standing with a dumbbell in each hand and smoothly lifting the weights out to the sides until they reach shoulder height.
  • This exercise is excellent for isolating the lateral deltoids, making it a staple in shoulder routines.

2. Lying Inclined Lateral Raise

  • Moving to the Lying Inclined Lateral Raise, this exercise adds an interesting variation by changing the body’s angle relative to gravity.
  • Lying face down on an inclined bench while performing the lateral raise allows for a different muscle engagement, hitting the lateral deltoids from a unique angle.

3. Cable Lateral Raise

  • The cable lateral raise provides more tension with the cable machine.
  • This tension challenges the deltoids throughout the entire range of motion, enhancing muscle strength and endurance.
  • Performing this exercise next to a cable machine targets the lateral deltoids effectively with a consistent resistance that’s hard to achieve with free weights.

Posterior (Rear) Deltoid Exercises

For effectively targeting the posterior or rear deltoids, you have a variety of exercises to choose from.

Each of these exercises engages the rear deltoid muscles differently, providing a comprehensive approach to strengthening this area.

Remember, I will reveal my best choices at the end of the article. But meanwhile, here are the ones worth considering.

Here, you have a wide range of exercises to choose from.

1. Single-Arm Cable Rear Delt Flyes

This exercise is excellent for isolating one side at a time, ensuring balanced muscle development.

It is performed using a cable machine, focusing on pulling the cable across your body with a single arm and engaging the rear deltoid muscle intensely.

2. Double-Arm Cable Rear Delt Flyes

The exercise allows you to work on both sides simultaneously, offering a more time-efficient approach.

Similar to the single-arm version, this exercise involves pulling cables from both sides, effectively engaging the rear deltoids.

3. Reverse Peck Deck Machine Exercise

This is a machine exercise and a popular choice for its user-friendly setup and effective targeting of the rear deltoids.

This machine-based exercise provides a guided motion, which is excellent for beginners or those who prefer machine workouts.

4. Cable-Wide Grip Rear Delt Row

This exercise involves using a cable machine with a wide grip.

This variation not only targets the rear delts but also involves the upper back, making it a compound exercise for upper body strength.

5. Chest-Supported Dumbbell Rear Delt Row

This is a unique exercise where you’re leaning forward on a bench, allowing for a focused engagement of the rear deltoids without straining the lower back.

6. Bent-Over Reverse Dumbbell Flyes

It is performed by bending forward and lifting the dumbbells outward.

This exercise ensures deep engagement of the rear shoulder muscles.

7. Face-Pulls

Lastly, face-pulls are an incredibly effective exercise for the posterior deltoids and also for improving overall shoulder health and posture.

Performed with a rope attachment on a cable machine, face-pulls target the rear delts, upper back, and even the rotator cuff muscles.

The Overall Best Deltoid Exercises

We’ve looked for the best deltoid exercises by considering important factors like muscle engagement, versatility, and strength and conditioning benefits.

Based on our evaluation, we’ve chosen exercises that excel in these areas. These exercises come from different categories, such as machines, dumbbells, and cables, and they are highly effective for developing the deltoid muscles.

Here are the top exercises for each part of the deltoid—the front, middle, and rear—and why they are considered the best in their category.

Front Delts

In choosing the best exercises for the anterior deltoids (front delts), we considered factors like muscle activation, range of motion, and versatility.

Scholarly data and fitness research have shown that certain exercises are particularly effective in targeting this muscle group.

Here’s a detailed look at why the seated dumbbell shoulder press, seated barbell shoulder press, and standing dumbbell shoulder press are top choices.

1. Seated Dumbbell Shoulder Press

The seated dumbbell shoulder press is highly regarded for its effectiveness in activating the anterior deltoids.

Detailed electromyography (EMG) studies have shown that this exercise engages a significant portion of the deltoid fibers, particularly the front section.

This is due to the upward pressing motion, which directly targets these muscles.

How to Perform

  • Starting Position: Begin by sitting on a bench with back support. Hold a dumbbell in each hand at shoulder height, palms facing forward.
  • Movement: Engage your core and press the dumbbells upward in a smooth, controlled motion. Your arms should extend fully, but without locking the elbows, to prevent joint strain.
  • Top Position: At the top of the movement, your arms should be straight overhead but not locked out. Pause briefly to maximize deltoid engagement.
  • Lowering Phase: Slowly lower the dumbbells back to shoulder height. Maintain control throughout the descent to optimize muscle tension.
  • Repetition: Continue the movement for your set number of repetitions, keeping the motion fluid and consistent.

Benefits

  • Stabilized Upper Body: The back support of the bench helps in stabilizing the upper body, allowing for a more focused and effective engagement of the deltoids.
  • Range of Motion: The use of dumbbells, as opposed to a barbell, provides a greater range of motion. This allows the muscles to stretch and contract more fully with each rep, which is key for muscle development.
  • Individual Limb Training: Since each arm works independently, this exercise helps in identifying and correcting any strength imbalances between the two sides.
  • Versatility: The exercise can be easily modified for various fitness levels by adjusting the weight of the dumbbells.

2. Seated Barbell Shoulder Press

The seated barbell shoulder press is a comprehensive exercise for the shoulder muscles, with a strong focus on the anterior (front) deltoids.

It’s known for its ability to engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously, including the trapezius and upper chest, in addition to the deltoids.

This multi-muscle engagement is especially beneficial for overall shoulder development and strength.

How to Perform

  • Starting Position: Sit on a bench with an upright back support. Position yourself under a racked barbell so that it’s at shoulder height.
  • Grip and Lift Off: Grip the barbell slightly wider than shoulder-width. Unrack the barbell with a controlled motion, positioning it at shoulder level.
  • Pressing Motion: Inhale and brace your core. Then, press the barbell upwards in a vertical line until your arms are fully extended overhead.
  • Top Position: At the top, your arms should be straight but not locked, with the barbell directly above your head.
  • Lowering the Barbell: Exhale and slowly lower the barbell back down to the starting position at shoulder height, maintaining control throughout the movement.
  • Repetition: Perform the desired number of repetitions, ensuring each rep is done with proper form and control.

Benefits

  • Increased Weight Capacity: The barbell format allows for lifting heavier weights compared to dumbbells, which is crucial for progressive strength development.
  • Stabilized Upper Body: The seated position provides back support, which helps in stabilizing the upper body. This is particularly beneficial for those learning the movement or for individuals with lower back concerns.
  • Symmetrical Muscle Development: As the barbell necessitates equal lifting from both arms, it ensures symmetrical muscle development, reducing the risk of muscle imbalances.
  • Scalability: The exercise can be scaled up or down in terms of weight, making it suitable for various fitness levels.

3. Standing Dumbbell Shoulder Press

The standing dumbbell shoulder press is highly effective for targeting the anterior deltoids.

What sets this exercise apart is its ability to engage a range of stabilizing muscles, including the core, due to the standing position.

This comprehensive muscle engagement ensures a balanced development of the shoulder region.

How to Perform

  • Starting Position: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart for a stable base. Hold a dumbbell in each hand at shoulder height, with your palms facing forward.
  • Pressing Motion: Engage your core and glutes to stabilize your body. Then, press the dumbbells upward in a controlled motion until your arms are fully extended above your head.
  • Top Position: At the top of the movement, your arms should be fully extended, but take care not to lock your elbows to prevent joint strain.
  • Lowering Phase: Slowly lower the dumbbells back to the starting position at shoulder height, maintaining a steady, controlled motion.
  • Repetition: Continue the movement for the desired number of repetitions, ensuring consistency in form throughout each rep.

Benefits

  • Core and Stabilizer Engagement: The standing position requires the active engagement of the core and other stabilizer muscles, providing a full-body workout.
  • Functional Strength: This exercise has high functional relevance as it mimics everyday movements and sports-related activities, enhancing performance in a range of tasks.
  • Balance and Posture Improvement: Regularly performing this exercise can help improve overall balance and posture, as it requires maintaining a stable upright position throughout the movement.
  • Versatility: The exercise can be easily modified to suit different fitness levels by adjusting the weight of the dumbbells and is suitable for a variety of training goals.

Lateral Delts

The lateral deltoid, the key to achieving that coveted shoulder width and definition, requires specific exercises for targeted development. In this section, we’ll explore exercises that effectively isolate and strengthen the lateral delts.

1. Dumbbell Lateral Raise

The dumbbell lateral raise is a quintessential exercise for lateral delt development and is revered for its ability to isolate this muscle group effectively.

This exercise primarily targets the lateral deltoid muscles. The action of lifting the weights away from the body isolates these muscles, making it an ideal exercise for shoulder sculpting and width.

How to Perform

  • Starting Position: Stand with your feet hip-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand at your sides.
  • Lifting Phase: With a slight bend in your elbows, lift the dumbbells out to your sides, keeping your palms facing down. Continue to lift until your arms are parallel to the floor.
  • Top Position: At the highest point, your elbows should be at shoulder height, and your arms should form a straight line from elbow to elbow.
  • Lowering Phase: Slowly lower the dumbbells back to the starting position, controlling the descent to maintain tension on the lateral deltoids.
  • Repetition: Perform the exercise for the desired number of repetitions, maintaining a steady pace and avoiding any swinging or momentum.

Benefits

  • Precision Targeting: The dumbbell lateral raise specifically targets the lateral deltoids, which are crucial for the rounded, cap-like shape of the shoulder.
  • Improved Shoulder Symmetry: This exercise helps in achieving symmetry, which is especially important for those who have imbalances in shoulder development.
  • Adaptability: The exercise can be adapted to different fitness levels by adjusting the weight of the dumbbells. It’s also effective for both high-rep endurance training and lower-rep strength training.
  • Joint-Friendly Movement: As a non-compound exercise, it’s relatively joint-friendly and suitable for people with shoulder issues, provided it’s performed with proper form and an appropriate weight.

2. Lying Inclined Lateral Raise

The Lying Inclined Lateral Raise offers a unique take on the traditional lateral raise, targeting the lateral deltoids from a different angle and providing a distinct muscle activation pattern.

This exercise focuses intensely on the lateral deltoids. The inclined position changes the gravity vector, which alters the way the deltoid muscles are engaged compared to a standing or seated position.

How to Perform

  • Starting Position: Lie face down on an inclined bench set at about a 45-degree angle. Hold a dumbbell in each hand, letting it hang directly below your shoulders.
  • Lifting Phase: With a slight bend in the elbows, raise the dumbbells out to the sides, maintaining a neutral wrist position. Continue lifting until your arms are in line with your body.
  • Top Position: At the highest point, focus on squeezing the lateral deltoids. Your body should form a ‘T’ shape with your arms extended.
  • Lowering Phase: Carefully lower the dumbbells back to the starting position, ensuring a controlled movement to keep tension on the deltoids.
  • Repetition: Perform the desired number of repetitions, focusing on maintaining form and control throughout each lift.

Benefits

  • Altered Muscle Engagement: The prone position on an incline bench helps isolate the lateral deltoids differently than upright variations, reducing the ability to use momentum.
  • Enhanced Muscle Hypertrophy: This variation can lead to increased muscle hypertrophy due to the unique stress it places on the muscle fibers.
  • Reduced Lower Back Strain: Lying on the bench supports the torso, which can be beneficial for individuals with lower back issues.
  • Variation for Muscle Stimulation: Changing the exercise angle is a great way to stimulate the muscles differently, which is crucial for continued muscle development and avoiding plateaus.

3: Cable Lateral Raise

The Cable Lateral Raise stands out in shoulder training for its continuous tension and unique resistance profile, making it highly effective for lateral deltoid development.

This exercise targets the lateral deltoids with continuous cable tension for constant muscle engagement.

How to Perform

  • Starting Position: Stand next to a cable machine with the pulley set at the lowest position. Hold the cable attachment in the hand furthest from the machine, with your arm across your body.
  • Lifting Phase: Keeping a slight bend in your elbow, raise your arm out to the side, away from the machine. Lift until your arm is parallel to the floor.
  • Top Position: At the peak of the movement, focus on contracting the lateral deltoid. Your body should be upright, and your arm should be straight out to the side.
  • Lowering Phase: Slowly return the handle to the starting position, maintaining control and tension on the deltoid throughout.
  • Repetition: Continue the movement for the desired number of repetitions, then switch and repeat with the other arm.

Benefits

  • Consistent Muscle Tension: The cable provides a unique resistance that maintains tension on the deltoids throughout the entire exercise, which is beneficial for muscle growth.
  • Reduced Momentum Use: The nature of the cable machine helps in minimizing the use of momentum, ensuring the deltoids are doing the majority of the work.
  • Adjustable Resistance: The cable machine allows for quick and easy adjustments in resistance, accommodating various strength levels and progression needs.
  • Joint-Friendly Movement: This exercise offers a smooth motion that is generally easier on the joints compared to free weights.

Rear Delts

Many people often try to achieve a well-rounded shoulder but make the mistake of ignoring the rear delts. Do not make the same mistake.

The rear delt is crucial for shoulder health, balance, and achieving a fully sculpted look.

The following exercises are specifically chosen for their effectiveness in targeting the rear delt muscles.

Let’s explore the overall best rear deltoid exercises essential for developing the often-neglected rear deltoids.

1. Cable Rear Delt Flyes (Double Arm)

Cable Rear Delt Flyes using both arms simultaneously is an excellent exercise for targeting the posterior deltoids, providing a balanced development of the rear shoulder muscles.

This exercise specifically activates the rear deltoids. The use of the cable machine ensures consistent tension throughout the movement, leading to effective muscle engagement.

How to Perform

  • Starting Position: Stand in the middle of a cable crossover station with the handles set to a high position. Grasp the left handle with your right hand and the right handle with your left hand, crossing them in front of you.
  • Opening Phase: With a slight bend in your elbows, open your arms out to the sides, squeezing your shoulder blades together as you move.
  • Top Position: At the widest part of the movement, your arms should be extended out to your sides, emphasizing the contraction in your rear deltoids.
  • Closing Phase: Slowly bring your hands back to the starting position, maintaining control and tension in the deltoids.
  • Repetition: Continue for the desired number of repetitions, maintaining a steady and controlled pace.

Benefits

  • Balanced Muscle Development: Using both arms simultaneously ensures symmetrical development of the rear deltoids.
  • Continuous Muscle Tension: The cables provide unvarying tension, which is crucial for muscle growth and endurance.
  • Customizable Resistance: The easily adjustable resistance levels on the cable machine cater to various strength levels and progression needs.
  • Enhanced Muscle Engagement: The movement pattern and cable resistance uniquely engage the rear deltoids, making this exercise a staple for comprehensive shoulder development.

2: Cable Rear Delt Flyes (Single Arm)

The Single Arm Cable Rear Delt Flyes provide a focused approach to training the rear deltoids, allowing for unilateral muscle engagement and increased concentration on each shoulder.

Focusing on one arm at a time, this exercise isolates the rear deltoid muscle effectively. The unilateral approach ensures that each side works independently, preventing the dominant side from taking over, which often happens in bilateral exercises.

How to Perform

  • Starting Position: Stand sideways to a cable machine with the handle set to a high position. Grasp the handle with the hand furthest from the machine, palm facing down.
  • Pulling Phase: With a slight bend in your elbow, pull the handle across your body, extending your arm out to the side.
  • Top Position: Extend your arm fully until you feel a strong contraction in your rear deltoid. Ensure your torso remains stable and facing forward throughout the movement.
  • Returning Phase: Slowly return the handle to the starting position, maintaining control and tension in the deltoid.
  • Repetition: Complete the desired number of repetitions, then switch and repeat with the other arm.

Benefits

  • Targeted Muscle Work: The single-arm approach allows for intense focus on each rear deltoid, enhancing muscle activation.
  • Correcting Imbalances: This exercise is excellent for addressing and correcting any strength imbalances between the two shoulders.
  • Adaptability for Injuries: For those with one-sided shoulder issues, this exercise allows working out one side while resting the other.
  • Increased Range of Motion: Working one arm at a time often allows for a greater range of motion, which can lead to improved muscle development.

3. Reverse Pec Deck Machine

The Reverse Pec Deck Machine is a specialized piece of equipment designed to target the rear deltoids. It’s particularly effective due to its ability to provide consistent resistance and isolate the posterior shoulder muscles.

This machine focuses on the rear deltoids, and due to its design, it minimizes the involvement of other muscle groups, ensuring that the rear delts receive maximum engagement. The movement pattern of the machine closely mimics the natural motion of the rear delt fly.

How to Perform

  • Starting Position: Sit on the machine with your chest against the pad. Grasp the handles or place your arms on the pads, depending on the machine’s design.
  • Movement Phase: Push your arms out to the sides, keeping them parallel to the floor. Focus on using your rear deltoids to initiate and control the movement.
  • Top Position: Once your arms are fully extended to the sides, pause and squeeze your shoulder blades together, emphasizing the contraction in the rear deltoids.
  • Return Phase: Slowly bring your arms back to the starting position, maintaining tension in the rear delts throughout the movement.
  • Repetition: Perform the exercise for the desired number of repetitions, ensuring a smooth and controlled motion for each rep.

Benefits

  • Isolated Muscle Engagement: The machine’s design isolates the rear deltoids, making it an excellent choice for targeted muscle development.
  • User-Friendly for Beginners: The machine offers a guided motion, which is beneficial for beginners or those unfamiliar with rear delt exercises.
  • Adjustable Resistance: The ease of adjusting weight enables progressive overload, a key factor in promoting muscle growth and gaining strength.
  • Reduced Risk of Injury: The controlled movement path and support from the machine reduce the risk of injury, making it a safe option for all fitness levels.

Final Words

In conclusion, our exploration of deltoid exercises has led us to select the most effective workouts for each part of the shoulder muscle. They are as follows:

  • Anterior Deltoids: The best exercises include the seated dumbbell press, the seated barbell press, and the standing dumbbell shoulder press.
  • Lateral Deltoids: Top choices are Dumbbell Lateral Raise, Lying Inclined Lateral Raise, and Cable Lateral Raise.
  • Rear Deltoids: Cable Rear Delt Flyes and Reverse Pec Deck Machine stand out.
  • These exercises collectively ensure a well-rounded development of the entire deltoid muscle group, essential for strength, balance, and shoulder aesthetics.

My Bonus Tips for Effective Shoulder Training

  • Choose one exercise for each part of the deltoid (anterior, lateral, and rear) and incorporate it into your shoulder routine. Stick to this selection for 2-4 months to truly assess its effectiveness. If changes are necessary, select a new set and maintain the routine for a similar period.
  • Since the front delts are often engaged in chest exercises, especially inclined bench presses, they can become overdeveloped. To prevent this, include shoulder presses in your routine at least once a week to maintain front delt balance.
  • The secret to broader shoulders is emphasizing the lateral and rear delts. Prioritizing their development can significantly enhance shoulder width and overall appearance.
  • While the general advice is to perform seated overhead presses at a 90-degree angle, an angle of 60–75 degrees is often more beneficial. This angle reduces the need for extensive external shoulder rotation, making the exercise more comfortable and effective for most individuals.
  • As for how often you should workout your shoulders, aim for at least 2-3 times a week.

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