You may have noticed that elite swimmers have shoulders that are broader than Broadway, but most of us aren’t able to devote our lives to the pool and do 2,500 lengths a week. Try this shoulder workout, which requires just 45 minutes, some standard gym kit and a bit of determination. Just be sure to keep the intensity high and the form correct, and you can get the physique of an aquatic powerhouse – and the only water you’ll have to deal with is the shower afterwards.
How to do the workout
This is a six-move session with two straight-set moves followed by two supersets. Do move 1, sticking to the sets, reps and rest shown, then do move 2. Then do moves 3A and 3B as a superset, and the same again for moves 4A and 4B, to work your biceps hard.
Warm-up
Warm up thoroughly with some dumbbell overhead presses and upright rows. Start with a very light weight for a high-rep set, then gradually increase the weight and reduce the reps with each subsequent warm-up set until your muscles feel fully ready for action. Make sure your shoulder joint is feeling mobile and pain-free before starting.
1 Push press
Sets 4 Reps 10 Rest 30sec
Why Using your legs in this overhead press variation lets you lift heavier.
How Stand tall holding a bar across the front of your shoulders. Lower into a quarter squat, then stand up powerfully to press the bar directly overhead. Slowly lower it back to the start.
2 Upright row
Sets 4 Reps 10 Rest 60sec
Why It’s a great move for hitting your traps and making your upper back bigger.
How Lean forwards from the hips holding a barbell with an overhand grip. Keeping your chest up, brace your core then pull the bar up – extending your ankle, knee and hip joints – to your upper chest. Lower it back to the start under control.
See related
- Improve Your Shoulder Mobility With These Four Exercises
- Shoulder Workout Routine To Add Serious Size To Your Shoulders
- This Shoulder Workout Will Strengthen Your Shoulder Joints Without Weights
Superset 1
These two moves will work wonders for all three parts of your shoulder muscles: the first move works the anterior (or front) delts, while the second works your lateral (side) and posterior (rear delts). You’ll need to reduce the weight of the dumbbells for this second move, because those two muscles must do most of the work themselves, unlike in the first move where the triceps help out.
3A Seated dumbbell overhead press
Sets 4 Reps 12 Rest 30sec
Why It works your shoulders through a good range of motion.
How Sit on an upright bench holding a dumbbell in each hand at shoulder height. Plant your feet on the floor and keep your chest up. Press the weights directly overhead until your arms are straight, then lower back down.
3B Prone reverse dumbbell flye
Sets 4 Reps 12 Rest 60sec
Why It hits your side and rear delts.
How Lie chest-down on an incline bench, holding a light dumbbell in each hand. Keeping you chest on the bench and a slight bend in your elbows, raise the weights to shoulder height, then lower them back to the start.
Superset 2
The final superset of this workout focuses first on your side delts, and then on your rear delts to help you build size, strength and stability across your entire shoulder region. Start with a light weight and prioritise perfect form for every rep to make your muscle fibres work as hard as possible.
4A Standing dumbbell lateral raise
Sets 4 Reps 15 Rest 30sec
Why This works your side delts to create wider shoulders.
How Stand tall, holding a light dumbbell in each hand. With a slight bend in your elbows, raise the weights out to the sides to shoulder height. Pause briefly, then lower the weights under full control.
4B Cable face pull
Sets 4 Reps 15 Rest 60sec
Why It’s a rarely seen yet highly effective rear delts builder.
How Stand tall in front of a cable rack holding a double chain or rope attachment in both hands. Keeping your chest up, use your rear delts to pull your hands back and over your head. Pause briefly, then slowly return to the start under full control.
