Machine standing lateral raise
- Stand in the center of the machine with your feet shoulder-width apart and grip the handles at your sides with a slight bend in your elbows.
- Raise your arms out to the sides in a wide arc until they are level with your shoulders, focusing on lifting with your side deltoids rather than your hands.
- Lower the handles back to the starting position slowly and under control, ensuring you maintain tension on the muscles throughout the entire descent.
Tips
- Lead the upward arc with your elbows rather than your hands, so the deltoid drives the movement instead of the wrist or forearm.
- Keep your torso upright and still throughout the set, resisting any tendency to lean or sway as you raise the handles.
- Lower the handles at a deliberate, controlled pace so the muscles remain under load during the descent.
Common mistakes
- Shrugging the shoulders upward as the arms rise, which brings the trapezius into the movement rather than keeping the deltoid as the primary mover.
- Using a swinging or jerking motion to initiate the raise instead of a smooth, controlled arc from the starting position.
- Bending the elbows progressively more during the lift, shortening the lever and reducing the arc the deltoid is required to move through.
Make Every Set Count.
Plan your workouts, track every session, and see your progress over time.
