The Egyptian lateral raise is a shoulder exercise that targets the lateral deltoid muscles, also known as the side shoulder muscles. This exercise involves raising your arms out to the side with dumbbells or other weights while keeping your elbows bent.
It is a great way to add definition and strength to your shoulders, and can also be incorporated into a full shoulder workout routine. To perform the Egyptian lateral raise, you will need a set of dumbbells or other weights and a flat surface to stand on.
Make sure to keep proper form and use a weight that is appropriate for your fitness level to avoid injury.
Benefits of Egyptian lateral rise
1. Improved Posture
The Egyptian lateral rise places your body in a correct posture and helps to align your spine. This helps to prevent back and neck pain, as well as helping to improve your overall posture.
2. Strengthens Core Muscles
Doing the Egyptian lateral rise helps to strengthen your core muscles, including your abdominal and back muscles. This can help to improve your balance and stability.
3. Increase Flexibility
Doing the Egyptian lateral rise can help to improve your flexibility, which can lead to better performance in activities such as yoga, dance, and sports.
4. Improved Circulation
Doing the lateral rise can help to improve the circulation in your body, which can help to reduce the risk of varicose veins, as well as helping to reduce the risk of certain medical conditions such as diabetes.
5. Improve Respiratory System
This exercise helps to increase the efficiency of your respiratory system, which can lead to improved energy levels and better overall health.
6. Improve Endurance
Doing the Egyptian lateral rise can help to improve your endurance, which can help to improve your performance in activities such as running and cycling.
How do Egyptian lateral raise with proper technique
The Egyptian lateral raise is a weight training exercise that targets the muscles of the shoulder and upper back. To perform the Egyptian lateral raise correctly, follow these steps:
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand.
- Bend your elbows slightly and keep them close to your sides.
- Lift your arms out to the sides until they are parallel to the floor.
- As you lift your arms, rotate your palms down towards the floor.
- Hold for a moment, then slowly lower your arms back to the starting position.
It’s important to keep your upper arms close to your sides throughout the exercise to avoid swinging the dumbbells and using momentum to lift them. Instead, focus on using your shoulder and upper back muscles to lift the weights. Keep your core engaged and avoid arching your back or swaying your torso. As you become more comfortable with the exercise, you can increase the weight or number of repetitions to challenge yourself further.
Muscles Worked
The Egyptian lateral raise is a weight training exercise that targets the muscles of the shoulder and upper back. Specifically, it works the lateral head of the deltoid muscle, which is the outer portion of the shoulder.
It also works the trapezius, which is a muscle in the upper back that helps to stabilize the shoulder blades and hold the shoulders in place. The rotator cuff muscles, which are a group of small muscles that help to rotate and stabilize the shoulder joint, are also activated during the exercise.
In addition to these muscles, the Egyptian lateral raise may also engage the muscles of the upper arm, including the biceps and triceps, as well as the core muscles of the abdomen and lower back, which help to stabilize the body during the exercise.
Overall, the Egyptian lateral raise is a great exercise for building strength and muscle in the shoulder and upper back region.
Common mistakes to avoid when doing Egyptian lateral raise
- Using Too Much Weight: When performing the Egyptian lateral raise, you should use light to moderate weight so that you can do the movement with proper form and avoid pain. Using heavy weight can lead to excessive strain on your shoulder muscles, increased risk of injury, and ineffective results.
- Rounding Your Upper Back: Maintaining a tall, upright position is key when doing the Egyptian lateral raise. If you start to round your upper back, you won’t be able to fully engage your lats and properly perform the exercise.
- Not Squeezing Your Lats at the Top: You should be sure to squeeze your lats at the top of the exercise to really engage the muscles and get the full benefit of the movement.
- Not Locking Out Your Elbows: Keeping a slight bend in your elbow throughout the exercise can prevent full extension, so be sure to lock your elbows at the top to get the most out of the exercise.
- Not Stopping at the Full Range: The Egyptian lateral raise should move all the way up to the side and stay there for a full second to get the most out of the exercise. If you don’t stop in the full range of motion, you won’t be engaging your lats fully.
Tips for incorporating the Egyptian lateral raise into a shoulder workout routine
The Egyptian lateral raise is an exercise that targets the shoulder muscles, specifically the lateral deltoid. It can be a useful addition to a shoulder workout routine, as it helps to strengthen and tone the muscles in this area. Here are a few tips for incorporating the Egyptian lateral raise into your shoulder workout routine:
- Start with a light weight: It’s important to start with a weight that you can comfortably lift and control. This will help you to perfect your form and reduce the risk of injury. As you become stronger, you can gradually increase the weight.
- Focus on form: Proper form is crucial when performing the Egyptian lateral raise. Make sure to keep your elbows slightly bent and your palms facing downward as you lift the weights. Avoid swinging the weights or using momentum to lift them.
- Keep your core engaged: Engaging your core will help to stabilize your body as you perform the exercise. This will help you to maintain proper form and get the most out of the exercise.
- Incorporate other shoulder exercises: The Egyptian lateral raise is just one exercise that can help to strengthen and tone your shoulders. Be sure to include a variety of exercises in your shoulder workout routine to target all of the muscles in this area.
- Use good form: Make sure to use good form when performing the Egyptian lateral raise. Keep your shoulders relaxed and avoid shrugging them as you lift the weights. This will help to ensure that you are targeting the correct muscles and avoiding injury.
Conclusion
The Egyptian lateral raise is a great exercise for targeting the lateral deltoid muscles, which are located on the sides of the shoulders. It can help to improve posture, strengthen core muscles, increase flexibility, and improve circulation.
To perform the exercise correctly, it’s important to use light-to-moderate weight and focus on form. Additionally, make sure to incorporate other shoulder exercises into your shoulder workout routine to target all of the muscles in this area.
With proper technique and consistent practice, you will be able to reap all of the benefits that this exercise has to offer!