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Dumbbell Lying on Floor Rear Delt Raise
A floor-based prone rear delt raise that uses the ground to stop momentum and enforce a strict, partial range for the posterior deltoids.
ShouldersDumbbellHorizontal abduction
GoLightWeight mediadumbbell-lying-on-floor-rear-delt-raise
Demonstration coming soon
Primary
Rear deltoids
Secondary
RhomboidsMiddle trapeziusInfraspinatus
Equipment
Dumbbell
Pattern
Horizontal abduction
Setup
- 01Lie face down on the floor with a light dumbbell in each hand.
- 02Rest your forehead on a folded towel or turn your head to one side comfortably.
- 03Extend the arms out to the sides with a slight elbow bend, palms facing the floor.
- 04Let the dumbbells rest lightly on the floor at the start of each rep.
Execution
- 01Squeeze the rear delts to lift both dumbbells a few inches off the floor.
- 02Keep the arms in line with the shoulders, not drifting toward the hips.
- 03Pause briefly at the top of the short range.
- 04Lower under control until the dumbbells just touch the floor again.
Checkpoints
- -Chest and hips stay pressed into the floor.
- -Elbows keep the same slight bend on every rep.
- -The lift comes from the shoulders, not from arching the lower back.
- -Each rep starts from a dead stop on the floor.
Common mistakes
- -Arching the torso off the floor to raise the weights higher.
- -Using dumbbells too heavy for the small working range.
- -Bouncing the weights off the floor between reps.
- -Shrugging the shoulders toward the ears during the lift.
Programming notes
- -Use 2 to 4 sets of 12 to 20 reps with light dumbbells.
- -The dead-stop start makes this a good strict finisher after heavier rear delt work.
- -Add a 1 to 2 second pause at the top before adding load.
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