Exercise guide · Beginner · Compound

Resistance Dumbbell Side Lying One Hand Raise: How to Do It & Muscles Worked

The dumbbell side lying one hand raise targets the deltoid muscles and is performed lying on your side, lifting a dumbbell with one arm to shoulder height. This exercise isolates the shoulder muscles and helps improve strength and stability.

Primary muscles
Shoulders
Secondary muscles
Traps
Equipment
Dumbbell
Level · type
Beginner · Compound
Demonstration of the resistance dumbbell side lying one hand raise
Front view: muscles worked by the resistance dumbbell side lying one hand raise. Primary: shoulders. Secondary: traps.
Back view: muscles worked by the resistance dumbbell side lying one hand raise. Primary: shoulders. Secondary: traps.
Primary Secondary

How to do the resistance dumbbell side lying one hand raise

  1. Step 1: Lie on your side with your legs extended and your head supported by your arm.
  2. Step 2: resistance variation Hold a dumbbell in your top hand with your palm facing down.
  3. Step 3: Keeping your arm straight, raise the dumbbell up to shoulder height.
  4. Step 4: Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the dumbbell back down to the starting position.
  5. Step 5: Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch sides.

Sets, reps and programming

Suggested sets, reps and rest for the resistance dumbbell side lying one hand raise by training goal
Goal Sets Reps Rest Effort
Strength 3–5 3–6 3–5 min 1–3 reps in reserve
Muscle growth 3–4 6–12 2–3 min 1–2 reps in reserve
Muscular endurance 2–3 12–20 1–2 min 1–3 reps in reserve

Ranges follow the ACSM position stand on progression in resistance training. Muscle grows across a wide range of loads when sets end close to failure (Schoenfeld et al., 2017), longer rests between heavy sets support strength and size (Schoenfeld et al., 2016), and stopping a rep or two short of failure works about as well as training to failure (Grgic et al., 2022). Estimate your working weights with the strength calculators.

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