Are you looking to build wider, stronger shoulders but don’t have a lateral raise machine? Don’t worry. You can adapt several exercises to work out your side deltoids and develop broader shoulders. As a result, you don’t need to rely on specific gym equipment. However, keep in mind that this is just an alternative to machine lateral raises.
You can build stronger, wider shoulders regardless of whether you have the right machine for this. You don’t need to rely on a specific machine to build stronger shoulders; instead, you can explore the right machine lateral raise alternatives. Incorporate different exercises into your daily workout routine to target your lateral deltoids and support your strength goals.
What Muscles Does the Machine Lateral Raise Work?
When it comes to the machine lateral raise, there’s no denying that it is best for working out the lateral deltoids. Shoulder width usually depends on these muscles, and these muscles also help in making your upper body look broader.
Did you know the supraspinatus is often involved in the exercise, which supports shoulder muscles to stabilize the movement? A machine allows you to follow a guided movement path, making it easy to emphasise controlled repetitions.
Remember that you don’t always need a lateral raise machine to work out these muscles. There are various alternatives available that can be used to get similar benefits.
6 Best Machine Lateral Raise Alternatives
1. Dumbbell Lateral Raises
One of the best alternatives to machine lateral raises is dumbbell lateral raises, allowing you to directly focus on the side delts and making it easy to work out each arm separately.
How to perform:
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Hold dumbbells in each hand while standing straight.
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Your elbows must be bent slightly while engaging your core.
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Now, in an outward direction, raise your arms, and they must reach at least your shoulder height.
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Now, lower the weight in a controlled way. You can perform 3 sets of 10-15 repetitions.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced lifter, you can perform this exercise by investing in the best-quality rubber hex dumbbells sets from True Iron Fitness.
2. Single-Arm Cable Lateral Raises
Cable lateral raises are another ideal alternative to a lateral raise machine, as they are responsible for offering resistance throughout the exercise.
How to perform:
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A cable pulley must be set to its lowest position.
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Stand sideways to the machine and hold the handle with your outside hand.
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Now, slowly lift your arm in an outward direction to reach approximately your shoulder height.
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Now, return to the starting position.
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You can opt for 3 sets of 12-15 repetitions per arm.
3. Resistance Band Lateral Raises
If you are looking for home workouts or are working out in gyms with limited equipment, you can opt for resistance band lateral raises.
Hold the resistance band’s ends while standing in the middle of it, and then raise your arms outward. Your torso must be stable, and don’t jerk your shoulders. You can perform 2-3 sets of 12-20 repetitions.
4. Leaning Dumbbell Lateral Raises
Another effective alternative to machine lateral raises is leaning dumbbell lateral raises. For this, you need to hold a stable support with one hand and start leaning away to increase the challenge through parts of the lifting range.
In your free hand, you need to hold a dumbbell, keep your elbow slightly bent, and then lift your arm outward. You can perform 3 sets of 10-15 repetitions per side. To buy dumbbells of the best quality, you can buy either a rubber hex or Urethane dumbbell set from True Iron Fitness.
5. Seated Dumbbell Lateral Raises
With seated dumbbell lateral raises, you will notice reduced body movement, making it easy to target side delts. Sit with a straight spine on a bench. Hold dumbbells beside your body and raise your arms outward to reach shoulder height. Now, lower them gradually. Complete 3 sets of 12–15 repetitions.
6. Cable Y-Raises
With an upward, diagonal arm path, cable Y-raises are ideal for working out the shoulders. They target deltoids while also focusing on the trapezius and other muscles. Hold the handles while setting two cables low, and lift your arms diagonally into a Y shape. Don’t arch your lower back.
Can Shoulder Press Machines Replace Lateral Raises?
If you are looking to build overall shoulder strength, you can opt for shoulder presses, but you can’t say that they can replace lateral raises. On the other hand, for machine-based shoulder training, you can incorporate the Atlantis Strength shoulder press, which can complement lateral raises.
Final Thoughts
We have created a list of lateral raise machine alternatives. You can choose any alternative that suits you, and you can find it easy to target your side delts and build broader shoulders using these alternatives. It’s recommended to adhere to the right technique when performing these alternatives. Additionally, you can also create a proper training plan to build stronger shoulders while relying on these alternatives if you don’t have the right machine. Despite this, you can explore different machines and dumbbells to train at True Iron Fitness.
