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Dumbbell Incline Rear Lateral Raise (incline dumbbell rear lateral raise) GIF — animated shoulders exercise demonstration

Dumbbell Incline Rear Lateral Raise

Also known as: incline dumbbell rear lateral raise

Intermediate
Delts
Dumbbell

Dumbbell Incline Rear Lateral Raise trades complexity for overhead strength that holds up, and it works well after overhead pressing.

How to do Dumbbell Incline Rear Lateral Raise

  1. Set up an incline bench at a 45-degree angle.
  2. Sit on the bench with your chest against the backrest and hold a dumbbell in each hand.
  3. Extend your arms straight down with your palms facing each other.
  4. Keeping a slight bend in your elbows, raise your arms out to the sides until they are parallel to the ground.
  5. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your arms back down to the starting position.
  6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Dumbbell Incline Rear Lateral Raise Sets and Reps by Goal

Strength

4 sets of 4-6 reps with 3 minutes of rest. Add reps on the smaller bell before you size up.

Hypertrophy

4 sets of 8-12 reps with 75-90 seconds of rest. Size up only when both sides finish equally strong.

Endurance

3 sets of 15-20 reps with 45 seconds of rest. Start each set with the weaker arm and match it.

Common Dumbbell Incline Rear Lateral Raise Mistakes

Letting the bells drift off the working path

Keep both dumbbells travelling the same line on every rep.

Driving the ribcage forward to fake overhead range

Squeeze the glutes and keep the ribs stacked over the hips.

Adding weight faster than technique can absorb it

Hold a weight until every rep looks identical, then move up.

Easier and Harder Than Dumbbell Incline Rear Lateral Raise

Swap Dumbbell Incline Rear Lateral Raise For

Dumbbell Incline Rear Lateral Raise — Frequently Asked Questions

How do you do the Dumbbell Incline Rear Lateral Raise?

Set up an incline bench at a 45-degree angle. Sit on the bench with your chest against the backrest and hold a dumbbell in each hand. Extend your arms straight down with your palms facing each other. Use dumbbells and keep the movement controlled through the full range. The animated GIF above shows the complete rep at normal speed.

What muscles does the Dumbbell Incline Rear Lateral Raise work?

The Dumbbell Incline Rear Lateral Raise primarily targets the delts. It is classified as a shoulders exercise and is performed with dumbbells.

How many sets and reps of the Dumbbell Incline Rear Lateral Raise should I do?

For muscle growth: 4 sets of 8-12 reps with 75-90 seconds of rest. Size up only when both sides finish equally strong. Adjust the load rather than the rep target if form breaks down before the final rep.

Is the Dumbbell Incline Rear Lateral Raise good for beginners?

It is an intermediate movement. You will get more out of it once you can already perform the basic shoulders patterns with controlled form. Beginners can still use it with light load and close attention to technique.

What can I do instead of the Dumbbell Incline Rear Lateral Raise?

Try the Weighted Kneeling Step With Swing, Barbell Seated Behind Head Military Press or the Kettlebell Two Arm Military Press. Each trains the delts with a similar movement pattern, so you can swap based on the equipment you have available.

Is the Dumbbell Incline Rear Lateral Raise the same as the incline dumbbell rear lateral raise?

Yes. The Dumbbell Incline Rear Lateral Raise is also commonly called the incline dumbbell rear lateral raise. Different gyms and training programs label it differently, but "incline dumbbell rear lateral raise" refer to this same movement.

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