How to Do a Front Raise: Variations, Proper Form, Techniques

The front raise is a weight training isolation exercise that isolates your shoulder flexion and targets the anterior deltoid. While the deltoids are the primary focus, this exercise also works out the serratus anterior, biceps brachii, and clavicular portions of the pectoralis major (pecs). 

There are four main benefits to the front raise, these include; strengthening of your shoulders, strengthening of your pectorals, improvement of shoulder flexion, and increased definition in the shoulders and chest.

While the front raise is an effective exercise when it comes to strength training, it also poses a few risks if you do not perform the lift properly. The primary risk is that you may experience muscle strains and tears. If surrounding muscles can not support the lift, you may damage surrounding muscles as well. 

Aside from using too much weight, the aforementioned risks typically appear through improper lifting techniques. For that reason, it is important to ensure that you are not swinging the weights, shrugging the shoulders, and standing with improper form. In order to master the front raise and gain the much desired mirror muscles you are looking for, it starts with good grip strength and perfect form.

How to Perform Front Raise with Proper Form?

The Front Raise is an effective exercise and one of the best shoulder workouts to include in a routine. To achieve the ideal front raise techniques, stand shoulder-width apart in a comfortable and neutral neck and spine position.

Hold even-weighted dumbbells in front of the thighs, holding them overhand with the palms facing the body; engage the core throughout the exercise; move the arms forward and away from the body. Pause once the elbows are in line with the shoulders, and then in a slow and controlled motion, bring the dumbbells back down toward the thighs without touching them. 

1. Breathe: Neglecting to breathe not only makes the front raise more difficult but less effective. 
2. Raise the Weights to the Shoulders: Bend the elbows slightly, and raise the dumbbells or barbell so it is in line with the shoulders, no higher and no lower. 
3. Place the Arms Horizontal to the Floor: Hold the arms out straight. Engage the core, and one should feel the weight in the upper arms. 
4. Take a Little Pause: Do not swing the weights up and back down again in one motion. Hold the weights in front of one for a second or two. 
5. Maintain a Neutral Spine and a Strong Core Throughout: Do not hunch or lean back, as this can cause injury. Stand straight in a comfortable and relaxed stance to dominate the front raise workout. 

What are the Benefits of Front Raise?

The front raise is a great compound lift for anyone that wants shoulder definition and is often a crucial part of people’s arm-focused workouts.

1. Strengthens the Shoulder Muscles
2. Works the Upper Chest
3. Improves Shoulder Flexion
4. Builds Strength and Definition In the Front and Sides of the Shoulders

1. Strengthens the Shoulder Muscles

While bulky, defined shoulder muscles are wonderful for aesthetics, they are also quite handy in day-to-day life. Straining to lift something too heavy can result in injuries like a pulled shoulder muscle or even a hernia.

2. Works the Upper Chest

One may not think about using the chest muscles often, but they attach to the ribs and have more to do with breathing and posture than many know. Toned chest muscles can improve posture while strengthening and lengthening chest muscles. 

Pectorals also help support deeper breathing, a vital action when doing intense exercises. 

3. Improves Shoulder Flexion

Flexion, which refers to the rotation of the joints, improves with front raises. The steady and controlled movement keeps the shoulder muscles primed for flexion, ready to reach or lift something.

4. Builds Strength and Definition In the Front and Sides of the Shoulders

While the bicep, deltoid, and pectoral muscles handle the brunt of this movement, there are many other small muscles along with the biceps that work in synergy to achieve the exercise. 

What are the Mistakes for Front Raise Form?

The front raise is a straightforward exercise, but to spare one from injury or wasted time, avoid these bad habits so one can maximize the workout and avoid injury or strain. 

1. Swinging Weights: Swinging the weights quickly up and then back down is a common front raise error. The pause at the top of the lift is vital for the workout to target and strengthen the muscles one wants it to. Remember, this is a slow and controlled movement. 
2. Shrug the Shoulders: Many people do this without even realizing it, so check the form in a mirror periodically. Shrugging the shoulders is kind of, well, cheating. When one does this, the deltoids don’t activate how they should, and one winds up using more of the forearm muscles. Shrugging the shoulders defeats the purpose of the front raise. 
3. Unstable Stance: A front raise is an exercise done head to toe. If one doesn’t have a good grip on the floor, consider moving to a mat or wearing different shoes. If the feet and legs are not stable, the workout will suffer. A conventional front raise form is a full-body stance. 
4. Disengaged Core: Neglecting to use the core muscles during this exercise will negatively impact the overall form. Not fully engaging them can force one to hunch over, which is not a good front raise form.
5. Reaching the Sky: Do not raise the dumbbells too high. Not only can this cause injury to the shoulders, but the shoulder and chest muscles will not fully activate. 
6. Excessive Elbow Bend: If one bends the elbows, they are not using the deltoid muscles to their full potential. A significant bend in the form puts weight on other parts of the arm and can strain the forearms resulting in an injury. A slight bend is recommended, but only slightly. 
7. Ego Check: Don’t use dumbbells that are too heavy, and don’t do an excessive amount of reps or sets. Especially, if someone is just now incorporating this exercise into the workout, it’s important to pace the workout. So it’s okay to check the ego and go for the lighter dumbbells to start. 

How to Determine Proper Weight for Front Raise?

The proper weight for a front raise can be determined by body weight, gender, and workout experience. Beginners should stay under 10 pounds and slowly work their way up. The average weight for a female to front raise is 22 pounds, and the average for a male is 40 pounds.

If it is still unclear what weight to start with, a safe beginning weight is usually about 0.1% of the body weight.

Which Muscles are Involved While Performing Front Raise?

The muscles involved in a front raise include the upper pectoralis, anterior and lateral deltoids, biceps, pectoralis minor, levator scapulae, serratus anterior, and upper and lower portions of the trapezius. 

What are the Front Raise Variations?

A front raise variation is when one starts with the arms in a relaxed state with weights, and then raises the arms out in front of one. Variations can feature different grips or positions to enhance the workout or make it easier.

1. Seated Dumbbell Front Raise: A front raise from a seated position.
2. Dumbbell Front Raise With Hammer Grip: A front raise holding the dumbbells vertically.
3. Barbell Front Raises: A front raise using one barbell rather than two dumbbells. 
4. Single-Arm Dumbbell Front Raises: Front raises are done one arm at a time. 
5. Unstable Dumbbell Front Raise: A front raise on an unstable surface like a balance pad. One common variation is sitting during the exercise. Another one is alternating front raises between arms. Alternating dumbbell front raises allows one to focus on one arm at a time.

What is the Necessary Equipment for Front Raise?

Below is all the possible equipment one could need for a conventional best front raise or any front raise variations.

1. 1-2 dumbbells
2. 1 barbell
3. Balance pad
4. Weight bench

For the standard front raise technique, all one needs is two dumbbells and a stable surface to exercise on. The front raise variations can require extra equipment. 

What is the Origin of Front Raise?

The origins of the front raise are unknown. An exercise like this has been part of workout routines for a long time, and it is difficult to trace its beginning. 

What are the Front Raise-Related Facts?

Here are some useful facts about front raises:

• They work the mirror muscles, so the progress is visible more quickly than in other exercises. 
• Because front raises are a compound lift, they work more groups of muscles, so one gets more out of this one exercise.
• Sometimes they are referred to as shoulder raises, front shoulder raises, full-frontal raises, or front lateral raises. 

Does a Front Raise Affect the Hormones?

Any exercise produces the following endorphins: dopamine, norepinephrine, hormones and serotonin. These increase mood and overall well-being.

Exercising the muscles with weights also produces testosterone because it promotes muscle growth. 

Does Front Raise Affect the Aesthetic of the Body?

Yes, the front raise affects the aesthetics of the body because of the focus on delts, biceps, and pectorals, the front raises bulk the front and sides of the arms and especially the shoulders; the pectorals also become more defined. Front raises are great for seeing results because they work the mirror muscles the most. 

Is Front Raise a Military Movement?

Yes, in training camps and routine exercises, military individuals and groups master front raises to strengthen shoulders and arms. 

Is Front Raise Essential?

Yes, front raises are an essential part of an arm and shoulder workout. A master front raise can do wonders to the arm and chest muscles. 

Is Front Raise an Olympic Movement?

No, front raises are not a weight lifting category in the Olympics. 

Is Front Raise a Compound Exercise?

Yes, a front raise is a compound exercise. Compound exercises work multiple groups of muscles at once. Because front raises work the biceps, deltoids, pectoralis, and other small muscles.