Dumbbell alternate shoulder press

Muscles worked: Upper arms
Upper arms
🔧 Dumbbells ↕ Push 🏋️ kg × reps Difficulty:

Muscle outlines from Body Muscles by Ivan Vulović, Apache 2.0 — regrouped and recoloured for Muscle Train.

How to perform

Press a dumbbell overhead, fully extending your arm while maintaining an upright torso. Stack wrist, elbow, and shoulder vertically at the top. Lower the dumbbell back to shoulder height, then immediately press the other dumbbell overhead, alternating continuously. Engage your core and avoid leaning.

Muscles Worked

Lateral Head
Secondary: Upper Traps, Transverse Abdominis, External Obliques

Tips

Brace your core muscles firmly throughout the exercise to stabilize your spine and prevent lower back strain. Press the dumbbell directly upwards, focusing on a straight line from your hand to the ceiling to maximize shoulder engagement. Consciously keep your shoulders pulled down and back, preventing them from creeping up towards your ears, which can lead to neck and shoulder discomfort. Avoid arching your lower back by maintaining a neutral spine and focusing on core stability. Position your elbows slightly forward during the press to promote a more natural and efficient movement pattern, minimizing stress on your shoulder joint.

Similar exercises

Dumbbell shoulder press Shoulders · 🔧 Dumbbells 3/10 Kettlebell shoulder press Upper arms · 🔧 Kettlebell 3/10 Dumbbell hammer grip shoulder press Upper arms · 🔧 Dumbbells 3/10 Dumbbell reverse grip standing shoulder press Chest, Upper arms · 🔧 Dumbbells 3/10 Dumbbell seated shoulder press Shoulders · 🔧 Dumbbells 3/10 Resistance band shoulder press Upper arms · 🔧 Resistance band 1/10 Dumbbell burpee shoulder press Quads, Glutes, Hamstrings, Upper arms · 🔧 Dumbbells 4/10 Dumbbell single arm neutral grip shoulder press Upper arms, Chest · 🔧 Dumbbells 3/10
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