Shoulder Workout: Front Dumbbell Raise

Good strong shoulders are a must on any body shape, male or female. Whether you want to look masculine and well rounded or if you want to create the illusion of a narrower waist, then working your shoulders should become a priority in your training routine.

The front dumbbell raise exercise is excellent for building the anterior (front) and medial (middle) heads of the deltoid muscle. Each of the three muscles that form part of the deltoid have a specific function: the anterior head allows you to raise your arms in front of you while the medial head allows you to raise your arms out to the sides. There is also the posterior (back) head that allows you to rotate your arms backwards. However, this move does not focus on the posterior head, but it's still useful to know.

To perform this move:

• Stand with your feet slightly parted.
  
• Hold a suitable sized dumbbell in each hand, palms facing your body and let your arms rest on the front of your thighs.
  
• UPWARD: As you inhale, slowly raise your arms until they are parallel to the floor. Make sure you are using your shoulder muscles to raise your arms and do not swing your body. Keep your back straight throughout the movement and feet planted firmly on the ground.
  
• DOWNWARD: As you exhale, slowly return your arms to the starting position and repeat.
  

Starting position of the front dumbbell raise       Finishing position of the front dumbbell raise

Author: Dimi Ingle
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