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Shoulder Exercises

By , About.com Guide

Updated September 16, 2009

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Rear Delt Raises with a Resistance Band
 Shoulder Exercises Paige Waehner
It's tough to work the back of the shoulder, but these rear delt raises offer a great way to target the posterior deltoids. The resistance band offers constant tension throughout the exercise and, because you're doing it one arm at a time, you can really focus on the muscle. You'll also work the upper back muscles (rhomboids and traps) for a bonus.
  1. Begin on all fours and place a resistance band on the floor in front of you.
  2. Hold one side of the band with the left hand and grab the other side with the right hand, keeping a few inches between the hands.
  3. Keep the left hand on the ground as you lift the right arm straight up to shoulder level, leading with the elbow and squeezing the back and shoulder.
  4. The knuckles should face the floor at the top of the movement.
  5. Adjust hand placement to increase or decrease tension and repeat all reps on the left arm and then switch to the right arm.
  6. Complete a total of 1-3 sets of 10-16 reps.

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