What Are the Benefits of Front Raises With Dumbbells?

Dumbbells are widely available, relatively easy to use and let you perform a variety of exercises. But unless you understand the benefits of each exercise, you may have trouble reaching your workout goals. So before you incorporate an exercise into -- or remove an activity from -- your routine, be sure you know what that exercise offers. Dumbbell front raises provide benefits for a variety of goals, so you may wish to give it a closer look.

  1. Muscle Balancing

    • Your arms move independently of one another when you perform dumbbell front raises, with each arm lifting an individual weight. This type of exercise helps eliminate muscle imbalances, which can occur if you favor the muscles of one side of your body over the other. When you try to use the non-favored side in competition, for example, you may overestimate its strength and suffer an injury. By forcing each arm to do the same amount of work, the dumbbell front raise can help you avoid that unfortunate result.

    Shoulder Strength

    • Dumbbell front raises target your deltoids, or shoulder muscles. These muscles are responsible for several shoulder movements that affect your arms, including shoulder flexion, which lets you perform the front raise's upward motion. Additionally, your deltoids help to rotate your arms at the shoulder joint and assist in abduction, or the movement of your arms away from the center of your body.

    Back Muscles

    • Your back muscles are among the largest in your body, and they help you maintain proper posture. Additionally, many back muscles are involved in your arm movements. The dumbbell front raise helps strengthen two large back muscles: your trapezius and levator scapulae. These muscles help raise and lower your arms, so strengthening them can benefit a variety of athletic pursuits, from lacrosse to basketball.

    Chest Muscles

    • The dumbbell front raise allows you to train your chest muscles without putting yourself in an unsafe position. Exercises such as the bench press require you to lift heavy weights over your body, which can be perilous. If you don't have a spotter available, you can perform an exercise such as the dumbbell front raise instead, as this lift works your pectoralis major -- the largest muscle in your chest -- without putting you in a dangerous position.