Dumbbell Scaption Raise

Start

Finish

How to do it

Stand with light dumbbells and thumbs pointing up, then raise the arms to shoulder height along a line roughly 30 degrees forward of straight out to the sides, splitting the difference between a front and a lateral raise.

Muscles worked

Primary: shoulders · Also works: rotator cuff, traps

Equipment

Dumbbells

Common mistakes

• Turning the thumbs down, which closes the joint space this movement is designed to keep open
• Drifting to a true lateral raise line instead of holding the forward-angled path
• Going heavy — this is a control and tendon-health drill, not a mass builder

Variations

• Band scaption raise
• Scaption raise with a three-second hold at the top

Can't do this one? Swap it for

• Seated Dumbbell Lateral Raise
• Dumbbell Front Raise
• Resistance Band Lateral Raise

Related exercises

• Standing Overhead Pressshoulders
• Pike Push-Upshoulders
• Dumbbell Lateral Raiseshoulders
• Shoulder Controlled Rotationsshoulders
• Face Pullshoulders
• Cable Lateral Raiseshoulders