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Having strong and powerful shoulders is incredibly important for many everyday activities, from carrying groceries to pushing a car out of a ditch. Shoulder strength is also essential for many sports, such as swimming, weightlifting, tennis, and even golf. Unfortunately, many people don’t give their shoulders the attention they deserve in their workouts. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to the best exercises for increasing shoulder strength.
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There are many exercises that can help you build shoulder strength, but some are more effective than others. Here are the five best shoulder exercises that you should incorporate into your workouts.
Push-ups are one of the most popular exercises for building strength, and they’re also great for strengthening your shoulders. To do push-ups, begin in a plank position with your hands slightly wider than your shoulders. Keep your core tight and your legs straight. Lower your body until your chest touches the ground, then press back up to the starting position. Do three sets of 10-15 reps.
Overhead presses are an excellent way to increase shoulder strength. To do them, stand upright and hold a barbell or dumbbells just above your shoulders. Slowly press the weights overhead, keeping your elbows close to your body. Hold for a few seconds at the top, then lower the weights back to your shoulders. Do three sets of 8-12 reps.
Pull-ups are a great way to engage your back muscles, and they can also help to strengthen your shoulders. To do pull-ups, grip a bar with your palms facing away from you. Pull yourself up so that your chin is over the bar, then lower yourself back down. Do three sets of 8-12 reps.
Lateral raises are an effective exercise for targeting your shoulder muscles. To do lateral raises, hold a pair of dumbbells at your sides. Keeping your elbows slightly bent, raise your arms out to the sides until they’re parallel with the ground. Hold for a few seconds, then lower the weights back to your sides. Do three sets of 8-12 reps.
Bent-over rows are another great exercise for building shoulder strength. To do bent-over rows, start by standing with your feet hip-width apart and holding a pair of dumbbells. Bend your knees slightly and hinge forward at the hips, keeping your back flat. Row the weights up to your chest, then lower them back down. Do three sets of 8-12 reps.
Ideally, you should be training your shoulders 2-3 times per week. This will give your muscles time to recover between workouts. Aim to do a variety of shoulder exercises, including push-ups, overhead presses, pull-ups, lateral raises, and bent-over rows. Remember to take rests between sets, and always use proper form to avoid injury.
Strong and healthy shoulders are essential for many everyday activities and sports. Incorporating exercises such as push-ups, overhead presses, pull-ups, lateral raises, and bent-over rows into your workouts is the best way to increase shoulder strength. Aim to train your shoulders 2-3 times per week, and always make sure to use proper form and take rests between sets.
