Dumbbell Lying Rear Delt Raise
How to Do the Dumbbell Prone Rear Delt Raise on Bench | In-Depth Guide [VISUAL LEARNERS] Beginner
Proper Form & Common Mistakes | Home Resistance Training
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE?
QUICK DEMO
QUICK DEMO
MUSCLES THIS WORKS
MUSCLES
MAIN MUSCLES WORKED IN Dumbbell Prone Rear Delt Raises
Rear Deltoid
The rear delt (aka posterior delt) is the back of your main shoulder muscle, called the deltoid.
OTHER MUSCLES WORKED:
- All portions of the deltoid muscle; scapular muscles (pectoralis minor, subclavius, latissimus dorsi, lower trap, serratus)
- External rotators ( infraspinatus and teres minor).
STARTING POINTERS
Starting Pointers
WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY
ALL WE'RE DOING:
Laying face down on a bench (oh so comfy!), raise your elbows into the air.
This rear delt raise version works both arms simultaneously while lying face down (prone). This laying- down delt raise is a practical shoulder exercise that can be done at home without going to the gym, you just need a bench and 2 dumbbells. This can help to build strength, stability, and balance in the shoulders, as well as improve posture.
The face-down position will stabilize the torso, making it easier to isolate the movement to controlled shoulder extension (horizontal abduction into extension) and external rotation. This is a good option if working the rear deltoids in a standing position is challenging because of back or leg pain, or weakness. Because the bench supports you, you may be able to lift more weight.
HOW TO DO THE EXERCISE
LOOKS
HOW Dumbbell Lying Rear Delt Raises SHAPE OUR BODY
Toned, balanced, capped shoulders, good posture.
PROPER FORM
PROPER FORM: Dumbbell Prone Rear Delt Raise on bench
EQUIPMENT, SETS & REPS
EQUIPMENT
Bench
SUGGESTED STARTING WEIGHT FOR WOMEN:
5-8 lbs
SETS & REPS:
2 sets of 8 reps
PACE:
Moderate up and slower down.
BODY POSITION
BODY POSITION FOR THE Dumbbell Prone Rear Delt Raise
BODY STANCE: Lying face down on a bench. Make sure your lower body is supported. If you do not have a bench that allows your legs to be supported too, try bending the knees or lie on the edge of the bed or floor - see below under variations.
LEGS: Bend your knees so that your thighs are supported by the bench and the feet are up. Having the lower leg straight off of the bench puts a lot of strain on the back of your knee and your low back.
HEAD: Put a small folded washcloth, or the forearm of your non-working arm, under your forehead to keep your neck in neutral. [The chin should not feel tilted down or up and the neck should feel long. There should be space between your earlobe and your shoulder, your neck should feel long, your chin should not be tilted down or up, and your neck should be relaxed and comfortable].
ARM: One arm off of each side of the bench - holding one dumbbell in each hand.
HAND/GRIP: Neutral or pronated grip, whichever is comfortable.
HOW TO DO
HOW TO DO Dumbbell Lying Rear Delt Raises
CUE: As you lift both arms up, make sure that you are not arching your back.
Pull your shoulder blades back and down.
Lift your upper arms up. Let your elbows bend as your upper arms move behind your body. The upper arms will be angled out to the side, away from your body, the elbows lifted back and away from your torso.
Lift your forearms to rotate your upper arm out (your hands come up towards the “don’t shoot” position). Your shoulder is about 60 -80° away from the side of your body with the elbow bent to 70- 90° at the end of the movement.
Your upper arm should be lifted behind the back and your hand should be lifted high - hold for just a second at the top.
HOW TO SAFELY GET OUT OF THE EXERCISE
Set the weights on the floor and push up to standing.
COMMON MISTAKES
COMMON MISTAKES
WHAT TO AVOID WITH Dumbbell Prone Rear Delt Raises
KEY TIP:
Guess what? Good news! Many avoids are the same for most movements. Once you learn the basics, there's really only a few extra avoids for each individual movement.
1. Avoid elbow drop
AVOID: Avoid letting the upper arm drop down as up rotate the arm.
WHY NOT?
- This will take the tension off of the deltoid and will decrease how much the muscle is working.
WHAT TO DO:
- Keep the upper arm lifted and concentrate on rotation of the bone in the socket.
2. Avoid Legs Hanging Off Bench
AVOID: Avoid legs hanging lower leg out straight.
WHY NOT?
- This puts a lot of strain on the joint for them to hang off the bench.
WHAT TO DO:
- If your bench only reaches your knees, be sure to bend them in the air.
3. Avoid Bending Wrists
AVOID: Avoid moving through your wrists.
WHY NOT?
- Poor alignment (bent forward or backward) or repetitive movement through the wrist can lead to joint and/or soft tissue irritation or injury over time.
WHAT TO DO:
- Your wrists should be in line with your forearm and should be still throughout the exercise.
4. Avoid too heavy weight
AVOID: Avoid sacrificing range of movement for increased weight.
WHY NOT?
- The deltoid will become most active towards the end of the movement when the upper arm is behind your shoulder joint and externally rotated.
- Increasing the weight may prevent you from being able to get to this position.
5. Avoid Rounding Shoulders Internal Rotation
AVOID: Avoid rounding shoulders in.
WHY NOT?
- This can cause pain and deterioration of the shoulder joint over time.
WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY
WHAT & WHY
BENEFITS OF TRAINING THE rear deltoid
WHAT
This exercise is designed to work muscle on the back of the shoulder - the back (posterior or rear) part of the deltoid muscle. These muscles are worked by moving the arm back, and slightly behind the body. The rear deltoid also helps to rotate the arm the underside of the arm up.
WHY BOTHER DOING IT?
WHY
WHY DO WE EVEN CARE?
WORK THE SLIGHTLY IGNORED PART OF OUR SHOULDER MUSCLE
The deltoid muscle is the large visible muscle on the top of the shoulder. The muscle can be thought of as having 3 different parts, each part moves the arm in a different direction. The rear deltoid or posterior deltoid is the part of the muscle that lies on the back side of the shoulder. The other two parts of the deltoid muscle lift the arm to the front and to the side of the body. In our everyday lives, and even in our workouts, we spend a lot of time moving our arms to the front and to the sides of the body. We spend very little time moving our arms behind us.
This might make you think that the rear deltoid does not need to be strong. But it is important to know that all three parts of the muscle need to be able to work together to keep the shoulder joint healthy. The entire deltoid muscle works to stabilize the shoulder joint when you use your arm, and when you are lifting or carrying a heavy object. A well-balanced deltoid muscle is needed for healthy shoulder movement and posture. If you strengthen the front and middle deltoids but not the rear deltoids, then you will create an imbalance. Keeping all three parts of the deltoid muscle strong and healthy can improve posture, make lifting and carrying easier, and prevent injury. The rear deltoid raise also works the muscles of the back, including the muscles around the shoulder blade that work to correct a slumped posture position.
PROMOTES MORE CONTROLLED MOVEMENT OF OUR SHOULDER
It is interesting (at least to me) to think about how the muscles work. Muscles work together to coordinate movement, so even though one muscle is primarily responsible for a specific movement - if the other muscles are not balancing out the primary mover - our movement would be very uncontrolled.
For example: throwing a ball, even though the front of the shoulder and the chest muscles are doing most of the work to pull the arm forward forcibly, the back of the shoulder needs to be putting on the brakes - just the right amount at just the right time in order to control the movement. If the muscles on the front overpower the muscles on the back of the shoulder - the upper arm bone would move forward in the shoulder joint. Over time, this can damage the joint or the soft tissues of the joint.
WORKS THE REAR DELT FOR BOTH IT'S FUNCTIONS + BONUS ROTATOR CUFF WORK!
These exercises are designed to target the rear deltoid by working it into both it's main functions:
1. extension
2. external rotation
The exercise does a good job of working the rear delt at the same time as the rotator cuff muscles (infraspinatus and teres minor) which is important for establishing good movement patterns.
This exercise is done in a bent over position. To hold the position, the muscles of the back of the legs (gastroc/soleus, hamstrings and gluteus maximus) need to be active. The back extensor muscles will work to hold the torso against the downward pull of gravity. The resistance is pulled back (as opposed to pulled down or up at an angle) so the scapular muscles, especially the mid and lower traps, rhomboids, and serratus anterior will help with the movement.
LOOKS LIKE THE BOMB.COM
I think defined rear delts just look awesome on a woman! I'm not usually into trying to look all a certain way, but there's something super attractive to me about having nice shape in this area.
EVERYDAY LIFE
EVERYDAY LIFE &
MUSCLE FUNCTION
HOW WE USE OUR rear deltoid MUSCLES IN EVERYDAY LIFE
1. REACHING BEHIND THE BODY
- Tending a kid in the back seat
- Reaching into the back pocket
- Bringing the arm back to throw a ball (overhand)
2. PULLING
- Pulling a car door shut
- Pulling a refrigerator door open
3. ROTATING THE ARM UP (EXTERNAL ROTATION)
- Reaching the back of your head for washing, brushing your hair
- Pulling a shirt off over your head
- Reaching the top of a zipper
- Scratching your upper back
- Turning your outstretched arm with the palm up (need shoulder external rotation and forearm supination)
- Receiving change in the palm of the hand
4. WORKS WITH THE OTHER PARTS OF THE DELTOID MUSCLE (ANTERIOR, MIDDLE FIBERS OF THE DELTOID) TO STABILIZE THE SHOULDER JOINT
- Improves the ability to lift and carry heavy objects (the arm has a stable base to work off of).
- Injury prevention
HOW TO FEEL WHAT MUSCLE IS WORKING
How to Feel What Muscle is Working
Take your opposite hand and place it on top of your shoulder. You should feel a hard, flat surface right on top close to the shoulder joint. Drop your fingers right below the bony surface. Hold your upper arm up (approximately 50 - 60 degrees out to the side) with the elbow bent. Push the upper arm back. You should feel the rear fibers of the deltoid activate under your fingers. It can help to push your elbow into the back of the chair or a wall.
SCIENCY STUFF
ALLLL MUSCLES & WHEN
ALL MUSCLES WORKING & WHEN DURING THE Dumbbell Lying Rear Delt Raise
The middle and lower traps, rhomboids, and serratus anterior work to pull the shoulder blade back, in towards the spine (retraction) and down the back (depression) so that the arm muscles have a stable base to work off of.
The beginning of the movement (bottom) is initiated by the posterior deltoid and triceps.
As the arms are lifted backwards and the elbow bends the rear deltoids will kick in more and the triceps will become less involved.
The arms are extended back and the rear deltoids, infraspinatus and teres minor contract concentrically to externally rotate the arms.
The arms are lowered back to the starting position through eccentric contraction of the posterior deltoid.
PIN IT FOR LATER!
