Barbell Shrug vs Dumbbell Lateral Raise
Maximizing Your Shoulder Workout Plan
Contents
Planfit users log Dumbbell Lateral Raise more often — 54,896 sessions vs 683. Compare Shoulder form, muscles worked, and when to use each.
Customize Your Shoulder Workout: Explore the Benefits of Barbell Shrug and Dumbbell Lateral Raise for Better Comparison.
Planfit Users' Choice about Barbell Shrug vs Dumbbell Lateral Raise : Which is Better?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Dumbbell Lateral Raise more often — 54,896 sessions compared to 683 for Barbell Shrug.
Popularity is not the whole answer. Barbell Shrug and Dumbbell Lateral Raise differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Barbell Shrug and Dumbbell Lateral Raise Differ
| What differs | Barbell Shrug | Dumbbell Lateral Raise |
|---|---|---|
| Muscles worked | traps | side delts |
| Equipment | a barbell | a dumbbell |
| Difficulty | 5 of 5 | 2 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 683 sessions | 54,896 sessions |
How to Barbell Shrug
Barbell Shrug muscles worked: Shoulder
Form
- 1. Please shrug your shoulders and lift the barbell.
- 2. Slowly return to the starting position.
Coach's Comment
- 1. When lowering the barbell, it should be done slowly rather than just dropping it.
- 2. Please make sure that the neck does not protrude excessively forward.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Barbell Shrug, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Barbell Shrug Guide page of our blog!
How to Dumbbell Lateral Raise
Dumbbell Lateral Raise muscles worked: Shoulder
Form
- 1. Please slowly lift the dumbbell to shoulder height while keeping your elbows slightly bent.
- 2. Make sure the palms of your hands are facing down towards the floor.
- 3. Slowly lower the dumbbell back to the starting position.
- 4. However, do not lower the dumbbell completely; only lower it until your shoulders are relaxed.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Please be careful not to lift the dumbbells higher than shoulder height.
- 2. If your palms are facing behind your body, it may cause shoulder pain, so please keep them facing the floor or in front of your body.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Dumbbell Lateral Raise, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Dumbbell Lateral Raise Guide page of our blog!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Shoulder, Barbell Shrug or Dumbbell Lateral Raise?
Planfit users log Dumbbell Lateral Raise more often — 54,896 sessions against 683 for Barbell Shrug. Both train Shoulder, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
Do Barbell Shrug and Dumbbell Lateral Raise work the same muscles?
Not quite. Barbell Shrug loads traps, and Dumbbell Lateral Raise loads side delts.
What equipment do Barbell Shrug and Dumbbell Lateral Raise need?
Barbell Shrug needs a barbell, and Dumbbell Lateral Raise needs a dumbbell.
Which is easier to start with?
Dumbbell Lateral Raise is the easier place to start. Move to Barbell Shrug once your form holds up.
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