Barbell Upright Row vs Dumbbell Lateral Raise
Maximizing Your Shoulder Workout Plan
Contents
Barbell Upright Row works multiple joints at once, Dumbbell Lateral Raise isolates — difficulty 4 of 5 vs 2. See which fits your Shoulder day.
Customize Your Shoulder Workout: Explore the Benefits of Barbell Upright Row and Dumbbell Lateral Raise for Better Comparison.
Planfit Users' Choice about Barbell Upright Row 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 4,261 for Barbell Upright Row.
Popularity is not the whole answer. Barbell Upright Row 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 Upright Row and Dumbbell Lateral Raise Differ
| What differs | Barbell Upright Row | Dumbbell Lateral Raise |
|---|---|---|
| Muscles worked | side delts and traps | side delts |
| Equipment | a barbell | a dumbbell |
| Difficulty | 4 of 5 | 2 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 4,261 sessions | 54,896 sessions |
How to Barbell Upright Row
Barbell Upright Row muscles worked: Shoulder
Form
- 1. Please lift the barbell to shoulder height while keeping it close to your body.
- 2. Slowly return to the starting position.
Coach's Comment
- Since this exercise can put strain on the shoulders, please substitute it with another exercise if you hear any sounds or feel pain in your shoulders.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Barbell Upright Row, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Barbell Upright Row 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 Upright Row or Dumbbell Lateral Raise?
Planfit users log Dumbbell Lateral Raise more often — 54,896 sessions against 4,261 for Barbell Upright Row. Both train Shoulder, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
Do Barbell Upright Row and Dumbbell Lateral Raise work the same muscles?
Not quite. Barbell Upright Row loads side delts and traps, and Dumbbell Lateral Raise loads side delts.
What equipment do Barbell Upright Row and Dumbbell Lateral Raise need?
Barbell Upright Row 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 Upright Row once your form holds up.
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