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Exercise guide
Cable Lateral Raise
A unilateral lateral raise on the cable, providing constant tension on the side delt.
What this exercise works
- Muscles
- lateral deltoid · anterior deltoid · trapezius
- Goals
- hypertrophy
- Equipment
- Cable machine
- Category
- Strength
- Difficulty
- intermediate
Demonstration
Step 1
Step 2
How to perform the movement
- Stand sideways to a low pulley, grip the handle with the outside hand.
- Keep a soft bend in the elbow and the cable in front of the working leg.
- Raise the arm out to the side until parallel to the floor.
- Lower under control. Complete reps per side, then switch.
- Maintain tension — do not let the weight rest at the bottom.
Technique cues and common mistakes
- Lead with the elbow, not the hand.
- Pause briefly at the top, do not swing.
- Use a lighter load than for dumbbell — cable tension is constant.