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Shoulder Exercises: Training, Technique and Equipment

Explore shoulder exercises with dumbbells, cables, and machines. Learn about technique, movement angles, and practical training guidance.

Shoulder exercises train the deltoids and support pressing, pulling, and lifting patterns in strength training. Choose dumbbells, cables, machines, or bodyweight movements that match your experience and program.

Shoulder exercise overview

This category includes shoulder presses, lateral raises, front raises, and movements that target the rear deltoids. Each variation has a different training feel: machines provide guided resistance, while dumbbells and cables require more independent control. Use a mix of movement angles and keep the load manageable.

Practical technique

Keep your torso steady, control the lifting and lowering phases, and avoid swinging during raises. Adjust the seat and handles on machines, and use a range of motion that remains comfortable. Stop if you feel sharp pain and seek qualified coaching when technique is uncertain.

Bear Crawl

Bear Crawl

The Bear Crawl is a dynamic full-body exercise that improves strength, endurance, and coordination. It simulates the way a bear moves across the ground, creating a unique combination of strength training and cardio. Execution: Start on your hands and feet with your knees just above the ground.

Full-body training CrossFit
Behind Neck Press Smith Machine

Behind Neck Press Smith Machine

The Behind Neck Press on a Smith Machine is an effective exercise for strengthening your shoulders and upper back. This exercise provides a stable movement that helps target specific muscle groups. Execution Set the Smith Machine to the correct height so that the bar is just above your shoulde

Shoulders Strength Training
Behind-the-Neck Lat Pulldown Machine

Behind-the-Neck Lat Pulldown Machine

The Behind-the-Neck Lat Pulldown is an effective exercise for strengthening your upper back and shoulders. This variation of the traditional lat pulldown emphasizes the upper back muscles and the rear shoulders, making it an excellent choice for improving your posture and increasing upper-body stren

Lats Strength Training
Behind-the-Neck Resistance Band Press

Behind-the-Neck Resistance Band Press

The behind-the-neck press with a resistance band is an exercise for strengthening the shoulders and upper back. This variation provides resistance that differs from free weights, challenging the muscles in a different way. Execution Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and place the resista

Shoulders Strength Training
Bench Dip (Knees Bent)

Bench Dip (Knees Bent)

The Bench Dip with bent knees is an effective exercise for improving upper-body strength and tone, particularly in the triceps, shoulders, and chest muscles. This variation is ideal for beginners or those who want to reduce the intensity of the traditional bench dip. Execution Find a stable benc

Triceps Strength Training
Bench Dip Hold

Bench Dip Hold

The Bench Dip Hold is a powerful exercise that targets your triceps, shoulders, and chest. This exercise is unique because holding the position at the end of the dip improves your stability and endurance. Execution Find a stable bench or platform where you can place your hands. Sit on the edge

Triceps Strength Training
Bench Dip on Floor

Bench Dip on Floor

The Bench Dip on Floor is an effective exercise that engages your triceps, shoulders, and chest muscles. The great thing about this exercise is that you do not need any special equipment, just your own body weight. This makes it a perfect exercise to do at home. Execution Sit on the floor with y

Triceps Strength Training
Bench Press

Bench Press

The bench press, or “bench pressing,” is one of the most popular exercises in strength training. It is also one of the three powerlifting exercises (alongside the squat and deadlift). It is a compound exercise that engages several large muscle groups. The chest muscles and anterior shoulder muscles

Chest Strength Training
Bench Press

Bench Press

The bench press is a classic strength exercise that focuses on strengthening your upper body. It is an effective way to build muscle mass and increase strength in the chest, shoulders, and triceps. Execution Lie on your back on a flat bench and place your feet firmly on the floor. Grip the bar

Chest Strength Training
Bench Triceps Dip Leg Curls

Bench Triceps Dip Leg Curls

The Bench Triceps Dip Leg Curl is a unique combination exercise that targets the triceps and hamstrings. This exercise offers an efficient way to work multiple muscle groups at the same time, saving you time during your workout. Execution Find a stable bench or platform where you can place your

Triceps Strength Training
Bench Triceps Dip with Straight Legs

Bench Triceps Dip with Straight Legs

The bench triceps dip with straight legs is a challenging exercise that targets the triceps while also engaging other muscle groups. This variation of the triceps dip helps build strength and definition in your arms and upper body while also improving core stability. Execution Find a stable benc

Triceps Strength Training
Bent Over Rear Delt Raises

Bent Over Rear Delt Raises

Introduction: Bent Over Rear Delt Raises are an effective exercise for strengthening the rear of your shoulders. This exercise also helps improve your posture and shoulder-girdle stability. Execution: Start with a pair of dumbbells and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Slightly bend your k

Shoulders Strength Training
Bent-Arm Chest Stretch

Bent-Arm Chest Stretch

The Bent-Arm Chest Stretch is an effective exercise for stretching the chest muscles and improving shoulder flexibility. This stretch helps reduce muscle tension and may improve posture by opening the chest muscles, which is especially useful if you spend a lot of time at a desk. Instructions St

Chest Stretching
Bent-Over Dumbbell Rear Delt Fly

Bent-Over Dumbbell Rear Delt Fly

The Bent-Over Dumbbell Rear Delt Fly is an effective exercise for strengthening the rear shoulders. In addition to targeting the deltoids, this exercise also engages the upper back and trapezius for a comprehensive upper-body workout. Execution Begin by picking up a pair of dumbbells and stand w

Shoulders Strength Training
Bent-Over Lateral Raises

Bent-Over Lateral Raises

If you're looking for an effective exercise to strengthen your shoulders and upper back, bent-over lateral raises are an excellent choice. This exercise is unique because it targets the rear of your shoulders, an area that is often overlooked in standard fitness routines. Execution Begin with yo

Shoulders Strength Training
Bent-Over Raise

Bent-Over Raise

The Bent-Over Raise is an effective exercise for strengthening your shoulders and upper back. This exercise helps improve your posture and increase your overall upper-body strength. Execution Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold a dumbbell in each hand. Bend your knees slightly a

Shoulders Strength Training
Bent-Over Rear Delt Fly with Resistance Band

Bent-Over Rear Delt Fly with Resistance Band

The bent-over rear delt fly with a resistance band is an effective exercise for strengthening the rear shoulders. This exercise offers a unique way to use resistance, challenging your muscles differently than traditional weights. Execution Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and place the

Shoulders Strength Training
Bicep Curls to Shoulder Press

Bicep Curls to Shoulder Press

The combination of bicep curls and shoulder presses is an effective way to train both your biceps and shoulders in one fluid movement. This exercise offers a unique opportunity to target multiple muscle groups simultaneously, making for an efficient and challenging workout. Execution Begin by ho

Biceps Strength Training
Biceps Curl to Shoulder Press with Resistance Band

Biceps Curl to Shoulder Press with Resistance Band

The Biceps Curl to Shoulder Press with a resistance band is an effective exercise that targets both your biceps and shoulders. This combination exercise is ideal for a full-body workout and offers the unique benefits of improved muscle coordination and upper-body strength. Execution Stand with b

Biceps Strength Training
Biceps Curl With Band

Biceps Curl With Band

The biceps curl with a resistance band is an effective exercise for strengthening and defining your biceps. This variation provides unique resistance that differs from dumbbells or barbells, challenging your muscles in a new way. Execution Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart on the middle

Biceps CrossFit
Biceps Stretch Behind the Back

Biceps Stretch Behind the Back

The Biceps Stretch Behind the Back is a simple but effective exercise to increase the flexibility and range of motion of your biceps and shoulders. This stretch helps loosen the muscles, which is especially useful after an intense workout or as part of your warm-up or cool-down routine. Execution

Biceps Stretching
Body-Up

Body-Up

The Body-Up is a dynamic exercise that combines strength, stability, and coordination. This exercise is unique because it challenges your entire body while also strengthening your core muscles. Execution: Begin in a standard push-up position with your hands shoulder-width apart. Push yourself

Chest Strength Training
Bodyweight Bent-Over Rear Delt Fly

Bodyweight Bent-Over Rear Delt Fly

The Bodyweight Bent-Over Rear Delt Fly is an effective exercise for strengthening your shoulders, particularly the rear deltoids, without needing weights. This exercise also helps improve your posture and stability. Execution Begin by placing your feet shoulder-width apart. Slightly bend your

Shoulders Strength Training
Bodyweight Front Plank to Downward Dog

Bodyweight Front Plank to Downward Dog

The Bodyweight Front Plank to Downward Dog is a dynamic exercise that promotes both strength and flexibility in your core and shoulders. This exercise combines the stability of the plank with the stretch of the downward dog, providing a comprehensive workout for multiple muscle groups. Execution

Abs Strength Training