Shoulders · Bodyweight
Side Step Lateral Raise
How to do the side step 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
Start in a low athletic stance and side-step one direction. As you step, raise both arms out to your sides to shoulder height with a slight bend in the elbows, then lower them as you step back, alternating directions.
- 1Side delts lifting the arms to shoulder height
- 2Glutes and quads driving the lateral step
- 3Lead with the elbows, not the wrists
Common mistakes
- Shrugging the shoulders up toward the ears
- Swinging the arms with momentum
- Standing tall and losing the athletic stance
Muscles worked
The side step lateral raise mainly works the side delts, with the quads, glutes, upper traps, calves, and adductors assisting.
- Side DeltsPrimary
- QuadsSupport
- GlutesSupport
- Upper TrapsSupport
- CalvesSupport
- AdductorsSupport
- ForearmsMinor
- Lower AbsMinor
- ObliquesMinor
- HamstringsMinor
- Front DeltsMinor
- Hip FlexorsMinor
Kovo programs the side step 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.