Your shoulders are the most versatile joints in the body with the best range of motion, that’s why it’s important to strengthen your shoulders with regular exercise.

The best shoulder workouts include exercises to work your rotator cuff and deltoid muscles so you can build strength, stability and mass.

Shoulder Anatomy
There are two parts to the shoulder: the rotator cuff and the deltoids. Both parts of the shoulder are important, but they serve different functions. The rotator cuff stabilises the joint and the deltoids give shoulders their shape and drive movement.

If you want to increase shoulder size, you need to do exercises that use multiple angles to hit each part of the deltoids. There are three parts of the deltoid — the anterior (front), lateral (middle), and posterior (back).

We’ve pulled together shoulder exercises you can do at home or in the gym. You’ll need two dumbbells (one heavier than the other). If you don’t have dumbbells, you can use water bottles.

Shoulder workouts you can do at home or in the gym

** Shoulder press
** Front raise
** Lateral raise
** Bent over reverse fly
** Commandos
** Exercise: Shoulder press

Routine: 10 reps x 4 sets

Rest between sets: 1-2 minutes

The shoulder press is a simple movement pattern that helps build strong shoulders. If you do this exercise standing up, you can challenge your core stability.

The next three exercises are important because they work the shoulder from all three deltoid angles, promoting muscular balance.

This exercise focuses on the anterior (front) part of the deltoid muscle. Front raises work your shoulders, but also your core, upper back, arms and neck.

Exercise: Lateral raise
Routine: 10 reps x 4 sets
Rest between sets: 1 minute rest

This exercise focuses on the lateral (middle) part of the deltoid muscle. The lateral raise is a shoulder strengthening movement and helps you to develop strong broader shoulders.

The commando targets the shoulders, but it also is great for tricep and core engagement. This can be regressed to the knees if it is too challenging, or to a plank with shoulder touches.