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The Best 10+ Men Shoulder Exercises For Bigger Shoulders

As a more important element of a comprehensive exercise regimen, top exercises for the shoulders can bring the body closer to that desired V-shape. In fact, the strength of your delts can give the appearance of a more slim waist and add an overall shape to your physique. Additionally, research has shown that exercises for the shoulder reduce pain and the chance of dislocations. Once all is done and dusted, you’re looking for a healthier body, enough to get on the bus.

Should the shoulder muscles be new to your routine of exercise, You’ll find that they develop quite fast compared to other parts of your body. However, don’t consider that you can’t do shoulder exercises for gym enthusiasts. Many fear the shoulder at the gym because the exercises can be quite intense…presuming that you’re doing it correctly. To ensure that as possible, we’ll walk you through the top 10 exercises for your shoulders for men before we identify what the shoulder muscles are.

What Are The Shoulder Muscles?

The muscles in your shoulder break down into two distinct categories: extrinsic and intrinsic muscles. The former begins at the torso and connects to the shoulder bones. In contrast, the latter begins just above the upper part of your torso (scapula, the clavicle) and joins with the humerus. In both categories, you will find various muscles that are specific. These are:

Extrinsic Shoulder Muscles

Trapezius The trapezius muscle shaped is a triangular shape (hence its name). The shoulder muscles are located along the spine and the shoulder blade to support the shoulder and arm as you lift it. The trapezius muscle is located on both sides of your right and left side.

Latissimus Dorsi

The title of the muscle, refers to the “broadest muscles in your rear,” and its structure is in line with. It is also known in the form of your lat muscles (because nobody wants to use the term latissimus Dorsi? ). It aids in your internal and external rotation and the extension of the arm.

Levator Scapulae

As its name suggests, the muscle levator scapulae assists in lifting the scapula bone (shoulder bone), which joins with the muscle humerus (upper arm bone) and the clavicle (collarbone).

Rhomboids

These muscles, shaped like rhombus, are responsible for the scapula’s retraction. They are located between your shoulder blades on the upper back. They are split between right and left.

Muscles Of The Shoulder Intrinsic

Deltoids Named in honor of the Greek delta letter, the muscle in a triangle is located on the top of the shoulder. It’s broken into three main anterior, middle, and posterior muscles, all linked by an incredibly strong tendon. The fact that exercises for your shoulder are generally associated with strengthening your “delts” is enough to prove how crucial this muscle is. Therefore, your delts serve as an essential foundation for arm rotation and injury prevention tasks.

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Teres Major Teres Major This small muscle is located beneath the shoulder joint to the armpit’s back. Because of its relationship with the latissimus Dorsi muscle, it has earned the name “lat’s little aid.”

Rotator Cuff -If you’re looking for why your upper arm bone does not come out of the socket of your shoulder every day, you’ve got this set of tendons and muscles to thank. The rotator cuff muscles are located around the shoulders.

10 Best Shoulder Exercises For Shoulders

Now that you’ve seen through the entire “Gray’s Anatomie” on the shoulder muscles, now is ideal to set those muscles into action. From dumbbell shoulder presses to reverse cable crossovers, you’ll find the exercises for your shoulder in the following. A quick reminder: If you’re trying to complete an exercise for your shoulders to build mass, it’s best to start your workout with the most challenging exercises. For those interested, here are the top exercises for the shoulders of males.

#1 Barbell Overhead Shoulder Press

Barbell overhead shoulder presses (aka standing shoulder press barbell) are not only for your shoulder but also for the best parts of the body. This makes it an excellent muscle builder, core builder, and other benefits

Instructions

  1. Make sure your feet are shoulder-width and squeeze your core tight as you lift a barbell with your shoulders with your palms looking forward.
  2. Then move the bar up and squeeze your shoulder blades until you reach the highest point.
  3. Reduce slowly and cautiously.

#2 Seated Dumbbell Shoulder Press

A good deltoid exercise cannot be complete without a standing dumbbell shoulder press. Actually, some believe that those exercises using dumbbells constitute an entire deltoid routine, which targets all three lateral, anterior, and posterior muscles of the deltoid (with special attention to those in the middle). Furthermore, using two separate dumbbells (as opposed to using machines) will prevent you from using one part of your body in a way that isn’t the other, keeping your balance more solid and evenly distributed. Naturally, a good amount of coordination is required to pull this exercise off, particularly when increasing the weights.

Instructions

To do a seated dumbbell shoulder press,

  1. Place yourself on a bench with a low back and keep dumbbells in each hand at shoulder height, with the palms in front.
  2. Maintaining your spine and head completely straight, you can lift the dumbbells above each other, stopping just one inch short of touching on top.
  3. Keep the position for a couple of seconds, then turn around. Repeat.

#3 Front Raise

You can choose to use the barbell or weight plate to perform this shoulder exercise designed to target your anterior delts. Whichever you decide to do, be prepared for an intense session using one of the top exercises for your shoulder for mass. Do not overdo the weight as it can quickly transform the healthy pain into a serious injury.

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Instructions

To execute,

  1. Keep your hands on the hips when you place the weight behind you.
  2. You should have your feet in line with your shoulders, and your core should be good.
  3. Then, pull back your shoulder blades while keeping your arms straight while raising the weight until your shoulders are level.
  4. Take a deep breath and reduce the weight slowly.
  5. Repeat.

#4 Reverse Pec Deck Fly

This exercise for the shoulder is designed to strengthen your posterior deltoid muscles. It requires the use of a pec deck. It’s also a great shoulder, back, and chest workout to build muscle mass. Start by establishing

Instructions

  1. The machine is facing you, and then position your seat, so it is the shoulder on either side.
  2. Then, grip the handles while palms are with your palms facing the inside.
  3. Intensify your torso and stretch your arms out towards the side, pressing through.
  4. Responsibly return to the starting position.
  5. Repeat.

#5 The Bent-Over Lateral Raise

This highly efficient full shoulder exercise concentrates on your middle deltoids and strengthens your entire body. It can be done either sitting (bent-over) or seated.

Instructions

  1. Start with a dumbbell on each hand while keeping your chest elevated and your back straight. Your knees bent slightly with your eyes directed towards a specific point in the ground.
  2. Bend your body until your center is in line with the ground. Then, hang the dumbbells under your body while maintaining your elbow’s slightly bent posture.
  3. Next, you should raise the dumbbells both up and down towards your sides, creating an arch until your arms align with your torso.
  4. Pause briefly at the top before lowering the dumbbells to the starting position.
  5. Repeat.

#6 Dumbbell Lateral Raise

If you’re looking to do a lateral raise that is more conventional, then look no further than this shoulder exercise is full. It also is a great exercise for the middle deltoids and can be extremely effective when done properly.

Instructions

  1. Begin in a standing position with the feet about shoulder-width apart. Keep your abs in a tight position and your chest lifted while your head is straight and your shoulders squeezed. Place the dumbbells to either end while maintaining an even grip.
  2. Then comes the difficult part. Utilizing only your arms and shoulders, lift the dumbbells one notch above your shoulder.
  3. Take a few seconds to hold.
  4. Lower the dumbbells until they are back in their position at the beginning.
  5. Repeat.

Your hands and elbows should be moving in unison, and you must maintain a neutral and upright position. Lower the weight accordingly if you feel that your neck or your core is moving as you complete each repetition (i.e., you’re using your body’s momentum).

#7 Push Press

A typical part of the heavy-compound exercise, the shoulder workout, is not suitable for those new to the sport. But, even professionals usually begin by doing it lightly (sometimes with nothing more than a bar) and add weight as they progress. If you can master this technique, make sure you prepare yourself for it to be visible everywhere in your body. The push press must be done in a standing posture.

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Instructions

  1. Begin by placing the barbell on your upper chest with your palms facing your elbows towards the sky and your upper arms in line with the floor.
  2. Reduce your hips and bend your knees to a quarter squat position. Ascend upwards using a lot of push, fully extending your elbows and arms while lifting the bar above your head.
  3. Take a few seconds to hold until returning to your starting point for the following repetition.

#8 Reverse Cable Crossover

It is necessary to connect D-handles on the upper pulley from two cables to perform this well-known shoulder exercise.

Instructions

  1. Take the machine’s handle to your left with your left hand and reverse it.
  2. The cables should be pulled to create an overhang across your chest. Keep your elbows in place and your arms aligned with your shoulders.
  3. Slightly move forward before lifting the weights of each device in an arc-like way by stretching your arms to the extent the cables will go before bringing them back.
  4. If you are able, you can increase the weight by each set.

#9 One-Arm Cable Lateral Raise

Like the reverse crossover, this shoulder workout targets the middle deltoid muscle and provides sufficient tension.

Instructions

  1. Sit sideways towards the machine. Keep your feet wide apart. With the hand opposite the pulley, grasp the D-handle.
  2. While keeping your abs tight and your back shoulders, lift the cable by using only the movement of your shoulders and arms.
  3. Reach your arm past the level of your shoulder. Hold it for a few seconds before slowly returning to your initial position.
  4. Repeat the exercise as often as possible, and then change sides. Your elbow and hand must be in sync throughout the duration.

#10 Standing Barbell Shrugs

Make sure to save this exercise for your neck and shoulders at the end of your entire routine.

Instructions

  1. Keep your feet in line with your shoulders. Bend your knees, then lift the barbell raising it to waist height.
  2. Then, raise your shoulders and then back (i.e., “shrug” or squeeze them) and squeeze them for approximately five seconds before releasing them.
  3. Make sure that you limit your movements to your shoulders, which means your arms need to be loose, and the barbell should raise and lower only very lightly.

Author

  • Todd Miller

    Todd Miller is a CrossFit Level 2 Trainer with a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He has been a CrossFit athlete and coach for over 8 years, and he is passionate about helping people achieve their fitness goals and improve their overall health and wellness. As an author at FitGAG, Todd shares his knowledge and expertise on a variety of topics related to CrossFit, including functional fitness movements, Olympic weightlifting, and overall health and wellness. He believes that CrossFit is a fun and effective way to improve overall fitness and well-being, and he strives to inspire his readers to incorporate CrossFit into their fitness routines. Through his articles, Todd aims to provide his readers with practical tips and strategies for optimizing their performance and achieving their fitness goals.

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