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§ L · Exercises · ShouldersUpdated 6/2026

Cable Lateral Raise

Builds the side delts and improves shoulder stability. That helps with posture and many upper body lifts.

Muscle group
Shoulders
Equipment
Cable
Exercise type
Isolation
Technique
Basic technique

Muscles worked

§ 01 · Muscles
Primary muscle
Shoulders

How to perform

§ 02 · Steps
  1. 01

    Stand sideways to the cable with your feet hip-width apart and your torso upright so the handle starts low on the opposite side.

  2. 02

    Grip the handle with a neutral grip, keep a slight bend in your elbow, and brace your core.

  3. 03

    Raise your arm out to the side with controlled shoulder blade movement to about shoulder height without rotating your torso.

  4. 04

    Hold the top position for 1–2 seconds with a strong contraction, and avoid shrugging your shoulder toward your ear.

  5. 05

    Lower the handle back to the starting position under control and repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Beginner's guide

§ 03 · Guide
What it works

Builds the side delts and improves shoulder stability. That helps with posture and many upper body lifts.

What it should feel like

You should feel it in the side of your shoulder. It should not be felt mostly in your neck, arm, or lower back.

Most common mistake

A common mistake is swinging your body or lifting too high. Use a lighter weight and keep your shoulder blade under control throughout the movement.

How to get started at the gym

§ 04 · SisuLift

Cable Lateral Raise is ready to go in the SisuLift exercise library. The app builds you a program, suggests starting weights and shows this same animation during your workout at the gym.

  • ·A ready training program based on your goal
  • ·Starting weight suggestions and automatic progression
  • ·Set logging and rest timer at the gym
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SisuLift app workout view

Tips

§ 05 · Tips

Keep a slight bend in your elbow and think about initiating the movement from your shoulder blade, not your forearm. Avoid swinging your body, and choose a weight that lets you maintain controlled tension in your shoulders.

A great exercise for targeting the middle deltoid to build wider shoulders.

More exercises: Shoulders

§ 06 · Same muscles

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