Standing Dumbbell Straight-Arm Front Delt Raise Above Head
A intermediate isolation movement that trains the shoulders with a dumbbell.
Force Type
Push
isolation
Difficulty
Intermediate
isolation
Variations
0
equipment swaps
Muscles
1
primary + secondary
The verdict
Standing Dumbbell Straight-Arm Front Delt Raise Above Head has 5-step instructions, more thoroughly documented than most of the 127 shoulders exercises PlainExercise catalogues.
Ranked against the 127 shoulders exercises PlainExercise currently catalogues, not the full exercise-science literature.
Catalog lens
Two ways this record sits in the source corpus
These are placement measures for the documented record, not a score for exercise quality, safety, or suitability.
Instruction steps
#338 of 868
5 numbered source steps; the longest instruction list ranks #1.
Instruction text
#702 of 868
A separate character-length placement prevents step count from standing in for explanatory detail.
Standing Dumbbell Straight-Arm Front Delt Raise Above Head is a intermediate isolation movement that trains the Shoulders. It requires a dumbbell. There are 0 known variations and 8 peer exercises that target the same primary muscle.
- 1 of 9 exercises targeting the Shoulders
- Level: intermediate
PlainExercise cross-links 0 variations and 8 peer exercises sharing the same primary muscle.
What the Standing Dumbbell Straight-Arm Front Delt Raise Above Head Data Reveals · DOC · PUSH/ISOLATION
Standing Dumbbell Straight-Arm Front Delt Raise Above Head opens on mechanic class: ISOLATION push work for shoulders with 0 catalogued assistants, joint involvement separates this page from isolation peers.
Among 873 exercises, 5 steps sit in the upper third (≥ 5). Longer step lists usually mean finer setup cues, not a harder movement by themselves.
Standing Dumbbell Straight-Arm Front Delt Raise Above Head is classified as a intermediate-level isolation movement with a push force profile, primarily training the Shoulders. The canonical form requires a dumbbell in the strength category. Within the shoulders cohort, 9 catalogued movements share the primary target; no alternate-equipment variations are catalogued yet.
Context matters: taxonomy (level, mechanic, force, musculature, equipment) does not account for individual biomechanics, joint history, or recovery. Common-mistake framing below is derived from classification fields, not case-specific coaching. Not medical or personal-training advice. Consult a physician or certified trainer before starting, especially with injuries, cardiovascular conditions, recent surgery, or pregnancy.
Exercise profile
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | intermediate |
| Mechanic | isolation |
| Force | push |
| Equipment | dumbbell |
| Category | strength |
| Primary muscle | Shoulders |
| Secondary muscles | 0 |
| Variations available | 0 |
Source: Free Exercise DB (CC0); profile derived per exercise record.
Standing Dumbbell Straight-Arm Front Delt Raise Above Head catalog footprint
Among 127 exercises whose primary muscle is shoulders, Standing Dumbbell Straight-Arm Front Delt Raise Above Head ranks #43 by catalogued variation count (0 listed heres). The upstream file attaches 2 images to this slug. See the step-count ranking for shoulders for peer documentation depth.
Muscles worked
According to the Free Exercise DB classification, Standing Dumbbell Straight-Arm Front Delt Raise Above Head trains the shoulders as the prime mover and no catalogued secondary muscles. The source classifies muscles as primary or secondary, it does not measure activation, so we show involvement, not percentages.
Source: Free Exercise DB primary/secondary muscle classification. Involvement, not measured activation, actual recruitment varies by load and form.
Intensity context
For reference, here is where common activities sit on the MET intensity scale. Standing Dumbbell Straight-Arm Front Delt Raise Above Head does not have a measured MET in the source data, its intensity depends on the load and effort you use. Estimate calories for any activity with the calorie calculator.
MET values from the Compendium of Physical Activities (Ainsworth et al., 2011). A general reference scale, not a rating of this specific movement.
How to do it
- Hold the dumbbells in front of your thighs, palms facing your thighs.
- Keep your arms straight with a slight bend at the elbows but keep them locked. This will be your starting position.
- Raise the dumbbells in a semicircular motion to arm's length overhead as you exhale.
- Slowly return to the starting position using the same path as you inhale.
- Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Common mistakes
- Rushing through reps, controlled tempo (2-3s down, 1-2s up) is what drives muscle tension on Standing Dumbbell Straight-Arm Front Delt Raise Above Head, not raw speed.
- Cutting the range of motion short - moving the shoulders through its full safe range on Standing Dumbbell Straight-Arm Front Delt Raise Above Head is what most reliably separates effective reps from wasted ones.
- Using momentum instead of muscle, isolation movements like Standing Dumbbell Straight-Arm Front Delt Raise Above Head reward strict form. If you're swinging the weight, it's too heavy.
- Flaring elbows excessively on push movements, tucked elbows protect the shoulder joint and transfer more force into the target muscles.
- Breathing out of sync with the lift on Standing Dumbbell Straight-Arm Front Delt Raise Above Head - brace and inhale during the lowering phase, exhale on the exertion, especially important with a dumbbell where control matters most.
Who this is for
- People with 6+ months of consistent training who can perform basic compound lifts with good form
- People who want to train the Shoulders
- People who have access to a dumbbell
Who this is NOT for
- People hunting equipment swaps, PlainExercise lists 0 catalogued variations for Standing Dumbbell Straight-Arm Front Delt Raise Above Head; browse 8 peer shoulders exercises for alternate patterns instead.
- Anyone with acute pain in the joints or muscles involved, pain is a stop signal, not a soreness signal
- People with unresolved injuries in the loaded joints, seek clearance from a physical therapist first
- Anyone with a recent surgery, cardiovascular limitation, or pregnancy complication without physician clearance
Progression path
Once Standing Dumbbell Straight-Arm Front Delt Raise Above Head feels comfortable with your current load, progress by (a) adding reps until you can complete 12+ per set, (b) increasing resistance by 2.5-5%, (c) moving to harder variations such as single-limb or longer lever versions, and eventually (d) stepping up to expert-level movements that train the same muscle.
See the Progression guide for a full framework on when to advance, and the Compound vs Isolation guide to decide when to prioritize this movement in your program.
Safety notes · DUMBBELL · PUSH/ISOLATION · MID
- Intermediate PUSH/ISOLATION: warm up mobility matching shoulders before Standing Dumbbell Straight-Arm Front Delt Raise Above Head with a dumbbell.
- Sharp or joint pain is a stop signal. Muscle soreness during sets is normal; pain is not.
- Adjust sets, reps, and rest to recovery; 5 upstream steps are a template, not a prescription.
- General information only. Consult a physician or certified trainer before starting any new exercise program.
Nationwide exercises with similar documentation depth
Two Free Exercise DB peer sets for Standing Dumbbell Straight-Arm Front Delt Raise Above Head, drawn across all muscles (not the shoulders-only related list below). Each metric produces a different neighborhood.
Similar instruction step count
Nearest catalog records by numbered steps (5 here).
Similar instruction text length
Nearest catalog records by upstream instruction characters (406 here).
Related exercises
Other exercises that target the Shoulders.
See all Shoulders exercises.
Using the standing dumbbell straight-arm front delt raise above head
A intermediate isolation movement for the shoulders - here's how to put it to work.
- Train the shoulders 2–3 times a week with 48+ hours between hard sets; pair this with other shoulders movements for balanced development. All shoulders exercises
- Match the load and rep range to your goal, strength, size, or endurance each call for a different scheme. Strength vs hypertrophy
- As an isolation movement, use it to target the shoulders directly after your compound lifts. Compound vs isolation
Form before load. If a movement causes sharp or joint pain, stop and substitute a safer alternative, this is general information, not medical or training advice.