Shoulders · Bodyweight
Bodyweight Single Arm Lateral Raise
How to do the bodyweight single arm lateral raise, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- Reps
- Movement
- Extension
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Stand tall with one arm hanging at your side and a slight bend in the elbow. Raise that arm out to the side up to shoulder height, leading with the elbow and squeezing the side delt, then lower slowly under control before switching arms.
- 1Feel the side delt work as the arm lifts to shoulder height
- 2Lead with the elbow and keep a soft bend throughout
- 3Lower slowly to keep tension on the muscle
Common mistakes
- Avoid swinging the body or using momentum to lift
- Do not shrug the shoulder up toward your ear
- Avoid raising the arm above shoulder height
Muscles worked
The bodyweight single arm lateral raise mainly works the side delts, with the upper traps assisting.
- Side DeltsPrimary
- Upper TrapsSupport
- ForearmsMinor
- Front DeltsMinor
Kovo programs the bodyweight single arm lateral raise for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More shoulders exercises
- How to do the battle rope alternating waves
- How to do the arm circles
- How to do the arnold press
- How to do the resistance band front raise
- How to do the resistance band lateral raise
- How to do the resistance band overhead press
Last reviewed June 2026.