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 differsBarbell ShrugDumbbell Lateral Raise
Muscles workedtrapsside delts
Equipmenta barbella dumbbell
Difficulty5 of 52 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users683 sessions54,896 sessions
Not sure whether Barbell Shrug or Dumbbell Lateral Raise fits your goal? Get a personalized plan

How to Barbell Shrug

Barbell Shrug gif

Barbell Shrug muscles worked: Shoulder

Form

  1. 1. Please shrug your shoulders and lift the barbell.
  2. 2. Slowly return to the starting position.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. When lowering the barbell, it should be done slowly rather than just dropping it.
  2. 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!

Do you want to know more about Barbell Shrug methods?Exercise Guide

How to Dumbbell Lateral Raise

Dumbbell Lateral Raise gif

Dumbbell Lateral Raise muscles worked: Shoulder

Form

  1. 1. Please slowly lift the dumbbell to shoulder height while keeping your elbows slightly bent.
  2. 2. Make sure the palms of your hands are facing down towards the floor.
  3. 3. Slowly lower the dumbbell back to the starting position.
  4. 4. However, do not lower the dumbbell completely; only lower it until your shoulders are relaxed.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Please be careful not to lift the dumbbells higher than shoulder height.
  2. 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!

Do you want to know more about Dumbbell Lateral Raise methods?Exercise Guide

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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