Shoulder Exercises

Shoulder Exercises

Well defined shoulders are very important for the overall health and look of a body . Strong shoulders are an asset in nearly every activity. You should devote an equal amount of times training your shoulders as you do your any upper body part. To achieve a well defined and balanced shoulders you must incorporate several exercises. Your shoulder exercise workout must have different exercise from different angles to develop all the parts for your shoulders. Developing strong shoulder is crucial to preventing injuries to other muscles during exercises. 

To get the best results you need to do 6-10 reps of each shoulder exercise. Choose a weight that you can do up to 10 for three sets. Once you can do 10 then move to a higher weight for maximal results. You can build up your shoulders muscles by doing a veriety of shoulder exercises with and without weight. 

FRONT Dumbell Raise 

Stand with a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing backward. Your feet should be about shoulder width apart. Maintain a slight bend in your elbows throughout the exercise so that your arms are straight, but not quite locked. Lift the weight in your left hand in front of you in a wide arc until it is slightly higher than shoulder height. With a smooth, controlled motion, lower the weight while simutaneously lifting the weight in your right hand, so that both arms are in motion at the same time. Do not cheat by swinging or leaning backwards! Can also be done with two dumbbells at the same time or a barbell. 

SIDE DELTOID RAISE (Seated) 

Works the side delts. Sit at the end of a flat bench with your feet firmly on the floor. Hold dumbbells with your palms facing in and your arms straight down at your sides. Raise dumbbells in a semicircular motion a little above shoulder height. Slowly lower to the starting position using the same path. Do not swing! Keep your arms straight. Can also be done standing. 

BENT OVER LATERAL RAISE 

Works your rear delts. Hold two dumbbells and sit at the end of a flat bench with your feet firmly on the floor and fairly close together. Bend forward until your chest nearly touches your thighs. Hang dumbbells between your lower legs and bench. Keep your arms straight and your elbows nearly locked. Raise dumbbells in a semicircular motion until your arms are parallel to the floor, even with your ears. Return slowly to starting position. Do not swing! 

OVERHEAD PRESS WITH BARBELL 

Raise a barbell to your shoulders. Sit at the end of a bench, with your feet at about shoulder width, flat on the floor. Keep your chest high and your back straight. Press bar to arm's length overhead. Use a slow, steady motion, without swinging. Lower slowly to starting position. Can also be done standing or with dumbbells. 

LYING SIDE DELTOID RAISE 

Lie on your side on a flat bench with a dumbbell in your uppermost hand. Your shoulders should be perpendicular to the bench. The lower arm should be extended in a comfortable position to act as a counterbalance. Your upper leg should be straight in line with the bench and your lower leg should stretch out to the floor to stabilize yourself. Start by extending the dumbbell out in front of your body and slightly toward the floor. Using your shoulder muscles, raise the weight directly above your body, then lower to the starting position. Finish your reps and then switch sides. Don't use weights that are too heavy or you will not be isolating the shoulder as much. 

DUMBBELL MILITARY PRESS 

UPRIGHT ROW 

Standing upright, grasp a barbell with your hands about shoulder width apart. Let the bar hang straight down in front of you. Keep your body and wrists straight. Pull the bar straight up towards your chin, keeping it close to your body. Concentrate on either pulling with your traps or the front of your shoulders, depending on what you want to work most. Lower slowly to the starting position. Don't cheat by leaning forward or backward. Don't swing! 

DUMBBELL RAISE 

Preparation: 

Stand and grasp the dumbbells with your arms to the side, palms facing sides of thighs. 

Execution: 

Pull the dumbbells up to sides of ribs with your elbows out to sides. Lower and repeat. 

MACHINE OVERHEAD PRESS 

FRONT DELTOID PULLEY RAISE 

Source: www.articlecity.com
Author: Clinton Walker III