top of page

Side Plank Lateral Raise Exercise Guide (Step-by-Step)

Updated: Jul 25, 2021

So, you want to know how to do the side plank lateral raise? You're in the right place.


Scroll down for the video tutorial and instructions.


side plank lateral raise

The side plank lateral raise is a brilliant abs and shoulder exercise, it is one of the advanced variations of the side plank.

 

How to Do the Side Plank Lateral Raise

The side plank with lateral raise works the shoulders as well as other supporting muscles.



How to Do the Side Plank With Lateral Raise:

  1. To begin, hold your body in a straight line from head to feet with your elbow directly beneath your shoulder.

  2. Then push yourself up into a side plank.

  3. Maintain the plank position while slowly raising and lowering your arm, you can also use a weight if you have one.

  4. Hold for 1-3 seconds when at the top of the rep.

  5. Switch sides and repeat for your desired number of reps.


Adding this bodyweight shoulder exercise into your home workout can help you get bigger and stronger shoulders.


This is a great bodyweight shoulder exercise, you can also see more bodyweight home workouts by clicking here.


How to Make the Side Plank Lateral Raise Harder:


You can make this exercise harder in a couple of ways, such as:

  • Doing more reps or slowing down your repetitions.

  • Adding resistance by holding a weight such as a dumbbell, filled water jug etc.

  • Lifting one leg up while doing this exercise (make an "X" shape).


How to Make the Side Plank Lateral Raise Easier:


There are also a couple of ways to make the crunch easier:

  • Do less repetitions or hold for less time.

  • Doing the side raises without being in the side plank will make it easier.

 

Frequently Asked Questions


Q: How do you do a side plank raise?

A: To put it simply, get into a side plank position, push yourself up so your body from head to toe is locked straight, then lift your free arm up like a normal side raise.


Q: What muscles do side lateral raises work?

A: The primary muscles targeted in side lateral raises is the medial deltoid. This is achieved by lifting the arms to the sides. The rear and front deltoids need to be targeted by doing different exercises, such as the rear delt row or front delt raise.


Q: How effective are side planks?

A: Not only is it a brutal midsection and overall body exercise, but side plank lateral raises will help tone up, strengthen and increase shoulder muscle mass.


Q: Do side lateral raises work traps?

A: The lateral raise mainly targets the medial deltoid muscle, which is the middle group of muscle fibres in the deltoid muscle. The traps and surrounding muscles are assistance muscles that help min this shoulder exercise.

Give Your Feedback

How would you rate this article?TerribleNot greatSatisfactoryGoodPerfectHow would you rate this article?

Get Your Free Workout Guide

Sign up to receive your free guide to workouts, including 5 of our best tips guaranteed to help you achieve your goals! Sign up now.

Great! Check your inbox.

Our Promise

Real Muscle is a fitness, health, and bodybuilding information publishing company working to make honest, accurate, and evidence-based information easy to find. We are working hard to improve the health and fitness of everyone.

Our evidence-based articles are based on the latest, most trustworthy studies and research, every statement is cited. Read the policy here.

Our evidence-based articles are regularly updated, scientifically reviewed, and fact-checked by subject matter experts. Meet the team here.

All of our articles are put through the most rigorous of editorial standards to ensure the highest-quality article possible. See our process here.

bottom of page