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How to do a shoulder external rotations

Upper bodyDumbbellsBeginner

Rotate the dumbbells outward with your elbows tucked — strengthens the small rotator muscles that keep your shoulders healthy.

Shoulder external rotations demonstration

How to do it

  1. 1Elbows tucked at your sides, bent to 90 degrees
  2. 2Rotate your forearms outward
  3. 3Return slowly under control

Common mistakes

  • ×Letting your elbows drift from your sides
  • ×Using heavy weight and swinging

Muscles worked

Shoulders

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Try these next

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Dumbbell lateral raise

Raise the dumbbells out to your sides — the move that builds width across your shoulders.

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Straight side raise
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Straight side raise

A lateral raise with straight arms — lifts the dumbbells out to the sides for the tops of your shoulders.

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