Alternating Deltoid Raise

A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the shoulders, using dumbbells.

Alternating Deltoid Raise — Starting position Starting position
Alternating Deltoid Raise — End position End position
Difficulty Beginner
Type Strength
Equipment Dumbbells
Primary Muscle Shoulders
AI Rep Counting Log manually

How to Do Alternating Deltoid Raise

  1. In a standing position, hold a pair of dumbbells at your side.
  2. Keeping your elbows slightly bent, raise the weights directly in front of you to shoulder height, avoiding any swinging or cheating.
  3. Return the weights to your side.
  4. On the next repetition, raise the weights laterally, raising them out to your side to about shoulder height.
  5. Return the weights to the starting position and continue alternating to the front and side.

Muscles Worked

Front
Back

Primary

Where Alternating Deltoid Raise does most of its work.

Alternatives to Alternating Deltoid Raise

10 movements that train the same primary muscle, closest substitutes first — same kind of training, then variations of the movement itself, then a similar difficulty.

  1. 1 Standing Low-Pulley Deltoid Raise

    Standing Low-Pulley Deltoid Raise

    A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the shoulders, using a cable machine.

    beginner Cable Machine
  2. 2 Alternating Cable Shoulder Press

    Alternating Cable Shoulder Press

    A beginner compound strength exercise that works the shoulders, using a cable machine.

    beginner Cable Machine
  3. 3 Barbell Incline Shoulder Raise

    Barbell Incline Shoulder Raise

    A beginner compound strength exercise that works the shoulders, using a barbell.

    beginner Barbell
  4. 4 Cable Seated Lateral Raise

    Cable Seated Lateral Raise

    A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the shoulders, using a cable machine.

    beginner Cable Machine
  5. 5 Front Cable Raise

    Front Cable Raise

    A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the shoulders, using a cable machine.

    beginner Cable Machine
  6. 6 Lateral Raise - With Bands

    Lateral Raise - With Bands

    A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the shoulders, using a resistance band.

    beginner Resistance Bands
  7. 7 Smith Incline Shoulder Raise

    Smith Incline Shoulder Raise

    A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the shoulders, using a barbell.

    beginner Barbell
  8. 8 Bent Over Dumbbell Rear Delt Raise With Head On Bench

    Bent Over Dumbbell Rear Delt Raise With Head On Bench

    A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the shoulders, using dumbbells.

    beginner Dumbbells
  9. 9 Dumbbell Incline Shoulder Raise

    Dumbbell Incline Shoulder Raise

    A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the shoulders, using dumbbells.

    beginner Dumbbells
  10. 10 Dumbbell Raise

    Dumbbell Raise

    A beginner compound strength exercise that works the shoulders, using dumbbells.

    beginner Dumbbells

Frequently Asked Questions

What muscles do alternating deltoid raise work?

Alternating Deltoid Raise primarily works the shoulders.

What equipment do I need for alternating deltoid raise?

Alternating Deltoid Raise uses dumbbells.

Alternating Deltoid Raise: is it suitable for beginners?

Yes. Alternating Deltoid Raise is rated beginner. Movements you can learn in a session, with a low skill floor and a forgiving failure mode.

What can I do instead of alternating deltoid raise?

Standing Low-Pulley Deltoid Raise, Alternating Cable Shoulder Press, Barbell Incline Shoulder Raise train the same primary muscles and are listed with 7 more alternatives above.

Can Fitnit count my alternating deltoid raise reps automatically?

Not automatically yet. Fitnit's AI rep counting covers push-ups, squats, dumbbell curls, crunches and pull-ups today; alternating deltoid raise can be logged manually in the app, and tracked movements are added over time.

Photographs and step-by-step instructions from free-exercise-db, a public-domain exercise dataset. Muscle mapping and alternatives by Fitnit.

Track Your Alternating Deltoid Raise with AI

Fitnit automatically tracks push-ups, crunches, squats, pull-ups, and curls with advanced body tracking technology — and you can manually input any other workout too. Start free — Pro is $8.99/month.