How to avoid strained back muscles on lateral raise machine? - Project Sports
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How to avoid strained back muscles on lateral raise machine?

4 min read

Asked by: Victoria Strongheart

Why does it hurt when I do side lateral raises?

That means any pain that rears up after something specific—say, a lateral raise or shoulder press—could be signaling an injury to your rotator cuff. The pain you’d feel would be like a toothache, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

What muscles are affected by lateral raises?

Which muscles will you strengthen in this exercise? The shoulder muscle is made up of 3 heads – anterior deltoid, medial deltoid, and posterior deltoid. The primary muscle worked in the Lateral Raise exercise is the medial or middle deltoid. This is achieved by lifting the arms to the sides.

Are lateral raises good for back?

A lateral raise is a strength training shoulder exercise characterized by lifting a pair of dumbbells away from your body in an external rotation. Lateral raises work the trapezius muscle in your upper back as well as the deltoid muscle group in your shoulders—particularly the anterior and lateral deltoids.

How do you do a lateral raise without hurting your shoulder?

What I want you to do is get into slight external rotation. So that means that look at me from the side here this is internal rotation. This is external rotation slight external rotation hinge.

Why are lateral raises so hard for me?

It’s an isolation exercise



Lateral raises are an isolation exercise, meaning they are predominantly powered by one muscle. In this instance, it’s the deltoid – the shoulder. “Isolation exercises will typically feel harder,” Chrismas says. “That’s because you can’t use multiple muscles to create force.

What can I do instead of lateral raises?

Lateral Raise Alternatives

  1. Dumbbell Shoulder Press. The dumbbell shoulder press is one of the popular exercises to add size and thickness to your shoulder. …
  2. 45-degree Incline Row. …
  3. Standing Military Press. …
  4. Leaning Away Lateral Raises. …
  5. Kettlebell Clean And Press. …
  6. Wide-Grip Upright Row. …
  7. Landmine Side Raises. …
  8. Pike Push-Ups.

Should you go heavy on lateral raises?

Even though the Lateral Deltoid’s range of motion goes beyond shoulder height, people do not lift dumbbells beyond their shoulder level. By going up to 45 degrees above parallel, the lateral muscles of the shoulder can be contracted much better.

Do lateral raise machines work?

Lateral raises are an effective exercise for isolating the middle deltoids and building bigger, wider shoulders – but doing the exercise improperly can also put your rotator cuff muscles at increased injury risk.

What weight should I do lateral raises?

How to do a lateral raise. You can do a standard side lat raise with some trusty dumbbells. Go for a weight of 2 to 10 pounds each, depending on your fitness level.

Are lateral raises bad for shoulders?

This is a simple exercise, but many people completely butcher it. The result is a move that looks like a Lateral Raise, but is more likely to cause shoulder pain and scare people away from the exercise. But if done correctly, it’s a safe and effective way to develop your shoulders.

Should you lean forward when doing lateral raises?

You don’t want to lean too far forward or you are going to put strain on your lower back. Yet a slight lean forward is important for making sure you can have proper mechanics for this exercise.

Should you retract scapula when lateral raises?

Retract your shoulders, and try to minimize trapezius involvement. The lateral raise is aimed at the deltoid, and the trapezius can take focus away from the primary goal. Straight, but not locked out. If you find yourself bending the arm more to cope with the weight, the weight is too high.

Do lateral raises hurt rotator cuff?

Lateral raises with palms down or thumbs down



This position may increase the compression of the rotator cuff muscles against the bony surface in the shoulder. Try to maintain a “thumbs up” position to decrease the risk of this compression in the shoulder.

How do you do a lateral raise without hurting your neck?

So if you're doing a lateral raise past sixty degrees all you're using is your levator scapulae. And upper trapezius. They both attached to the neck and shoulder.