Shoulders · Cable
Cable Single Arm Lateral Raise
How to do the cable single arm 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
- VerticalPush
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Set a cable to a low position and stand side on with the machine on the opposite side of the working arm, so the cable runs across the front of your body. Grab the handle with your outside hand resting at your hip. Keeping a slight bend in your elbow, raise your arm out to the side up to shoulder height, leading with your elbow. Pause at the top, then lower slowly back down.
- 1Feel the side of your shoulder lift the arm
- 2Lead with your elbow, keeping the wrist neutral
- 3Keep constant tension as you lower across the body
Common mistakes
- Do not shrug your trap to start the lift
- Avoid swinging or leaning to throw the weight up
- Do not raise above shoulder height; stop level with the floor
Muscles worked
The cable single arm lateral raise mainly works the side delts, with the upper traps assisting.
- Side DeltsPrimary
- Upper TrapsSupport
- ForearmsMinor
- Mid TrapsMinor
- Lower TrapsMinor
- Lower AbsMinor
- ObliquesMinor
- Front DeltsMinor
- Rear DeltsMinor
- External RotatorsMinor
Kovo programs the cable 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.