Want sculpted shoulders? Try these 5 exercises
What's the story
Strong shoulders are key to good posture, powerful upper body, and staying injury-free.
A complete shoulder workout should hit all the major muscle groups, including your deltoids, rotator cuff, and trapezius.
Variety is crucial for balanced muscle development and overall shoulder stability.
So, here are five exercises you should add to your routine for strong and sculpted shoulders.
Drive 1
Overhead press
The overhead press is a classic exercise for developing powerful shoulders.
It focuses on the deltoids but also works the triceps and upper chest.
To do it, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold a barbell/dumbbells at your shoulders.
Push the weight overhead until your arms are straight, then lower it back down.
This move is great for building upper body strength.
Drive 2
Lateral raises
Lateral raises specifically target the lateral deltoid muscles, helping you achieve that wider shoulder look.
Start by standing with your feet hip-width apart and hold the dumbbells at your sides, palms facing inward.
Lift your arms out to the sides until they're parallel to the floor. Remember, your elbows should be slightly bent the whole time.
Lower them back down slowly - this is where the magic happens!
Drive 3
Front raises
Front raises primarily work the anterior deltoids, which are located at the front of your shoulders.
Stand with feet hip-width apart and hold dumbbells in front of thighs with palms facing down.
Raise weights straight up in front of you until arms are parallel to the floor, then lower them back down slowly and under control.
Drive 4
Bent-over reverse flyes
This exercise targets your posterior deltoids and upper back muscles, including your rhomboids and trapezius fibers.
It's a great way to improve your posture.
Start by bending slightly forward from the hips with a flat back.
Hold light dumbbells hanging below shoulders, then raise them outward until they are level with your back.
Lower them gently back to the starting position, avoiding any swinging motion.
Drive 5
Face pulls
Face pulls target both rear delts and rotator cuff stabilizers, which are essential for injury prevention in any fitness routine.
On a cable machine with a rope attachment set high above your head, pull the handles toward your face while keeping your elbows high throughout the entire motion.
Do them religiously, and soon you will see the results in the form of improved definition.