It has been said that the size of the shoulders especially from a male perspective are a measure of our strength.. Possessing large broad shoulders can give a image of power and is probably the first muscle group to be noticed.Therefore shoulder exercises tend to get a lot of focus in the gym and hence expose the area to injury.. Because of the risk of injury it is extremely important to get the shoulders fully warmed up before any workout and to limit the use of overhead presses. As I have found out on few occasions an injury to the shoulders is easy to get but not so easy to cure and can severely limit any upper body workouts.
So with that in mind if your looking to build a big pair of cannon ball shoulders then here are what I consider the 4 best exercises :
Standing Dumbbell Overhead Press – This is one of the most frequently practiced exercises for shoulders. For your starting position, you will be required to stand with your feet spread at hip width. As you ensure that your elbows are crooked, gently lift your arms until the dumbbells are at your ear . Breathe in when the weight is over your head and then breathe out as you slowly lower them.Above all ensure that your posture is kept firm and straight during the exercise.
Lateral Raise – Start this exercise by standing with your feet set apart by hip width. Raise both your arms against your sides whilst maintaining a firm grip on each individual dumbbell with either hand. Ensure that your elbows are slightly bent. Slowly lower the weights, and repeat.
Front Raise – This is potentially one of the most challenging exercises for shoulders, and should be practiced with a lighter weight. What you will do is stand with your feet about hip width apart with a light weight dumbbell in each hand. Raise your hands in front of your, gently rising until you reach your shoulder level—count to one. Slowly lower, and inhale.
Reverse Fly – The reverse fly targets the rear of the deltoid and again should be approached with caution.. My preference is to use a bench that can be adjusted to a 60-degree incline position.Get a pair of light dumbbells and lie chest down on the bench.. With your chest supported by the bench, raise the DB’s up and out to your sides.. From an elevated position your body should form a letter Y pattern. Looking from above your position your arms and body should form a Y shape. As the weights are raised you should feel your shoulder blades coming together.. This exercise is also effective for working the middle section of your traps and the rhomboids.
A good shoulder workout includes exercises that focus on all the muscles in the deltoid to lessen the risk of injury and maintain a balanced look. With regard to reps and sets stick with a routine that you can perform safely with proper technique. If good form cannot be maintained then lighten the weight.
Tags: exercises for big shoulders, exercises for shoulders, Shoulder exercises, workout for shoulders