Shoulders · Cable
Cable Leaning Lateral Raise
How to do the cable leaning lateral raise, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Cable
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Extension
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Stand side-on to a low cable pulley, grab the handle with your outside hand, and hold the machine frame with the other to lean your body away from the stack. With a slight bend in your elbow, raise your arm out to shoulder height against the cable, then lower under control. Finish your reps, then switch sides.
- 1Feel a deep, constant burn in your side delt across the full range from
- 2the lean
- 3Keep a slight bend in your elbow and lead with your elbow, not your wrist
- 4Maintain tension on the cable even at the bottom; the lean keeps it loaded
Common mistakes
- Avoid swinging your body or using momentum; lift under control
- Don't shrug your shoulder toward your ear; keep it down and relaxed
- Avoid going far above shoulder height; stop around parallel
Muscles worked
The cable leaning lateral raise mainly works the side delts, with the upper traps assisting.
- Side DeltsPrimary
- Upper TrapsSupport
- ForearmsMinor
Kovo programs the cable leaning 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.