Chest-Supported Rear Delt Raise Guide | Shoulder Strength

Master the chest-supported rear delt raise with our step-by-step guide. Learn proper form, avoid common mistakes, and build stronger shoulders.

How to Perform

  1. Set an adjustable bench to a 45-degree incline and lie face down with your chest firmly against the pad.
  2. Plant your feet securely on the floor and let your arms hang straight down toward the ground holding a pair of dumbbells with a neutral grip.
  3. Retract your shoulder blades slightly to engage your upper back while keeping a slight bend in your elbows.
  4. Raise the dumbbells out to the sides in a wide arc until your elbows are level with your shoulders.
  5. Pause for a moment at the top of the movement to maximize peak contraction in the rear deltoids.
  6. Lower the weights back to the starting position under slow, deliberate control to maintain tension.
  7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions without letting the weights touch or rest at the bottom.

Common Mistakes

  • Using momentum or swinging the weights upward
  • Shrugging the shoulders toward the ears during the lift
  • Bending the elbows excessively and turning it into a row
  • Lifting the chest off the bench to assist the movement

Muscles Worked

Primary movers

  • Shoulders

Stabilizers

  • Trapezius
  • Rhomboids
  • Rear Deltoids

Related Guides

Shoulders · Shoulders