A key to developing strong, powerful shoulder muscles is to work on strengthening the shoulder from the inside out. As the deltoid muscles become stronger, more weight can be lifted, which benefits muscle hypertrophy. It is important to develop the muscles that make up the rotator cuff as well as the various deltoid muscles. This should help to prevent any shoulder issues down the road, as well as decrease the risk of injuries.
Four Rotator Cuff Muscles
The rotator cuff muscles perform internal and external rotation and help to stabilize the shoulder capsule. They are commonly referred to as the SITS muscles:
- Supraspinatus
- Infraspinatus
- Teres minor
- Subscapularis
Deltoid Muscles
There are three heads that make up the deltoid muscle. The front muscle, known as the anterior deltoid, is responsible for helping the arm move forward. The middle or lateral head is needed to move your arm out to the side, as well as up and down. The third head is found in the back part of the shoulder is the posterior deltoid and it moves the arm backward.
- Anterior Deltoid
- Medial or Lateral Deltoid
- Posterior Deltoid
Here are a few exercises that can be used to strengthen each of the respective muscle groups discussed in this article.
External Rotation
Internal Rotation
Cable Lateral Raise
Smith Machine Shoulder Press
Machine Reverse Fly
Final Thoughts
This group of shoulder exercises, selected by Jefit, will build shoulder strength if the time is put in. These exercises will overload the deep internal and more superficial muscles of the shoulder and eventually will adapt and become stronger over time.
Stay Strong Together
Try the award-winning Jefit app which comes equipped with a customizable workout planner and training log. The app also has ability to track data. It also offer audio cues, and has a feature to share workouts with friends. Take advantage of Jefit’s exercise database for your strength workouts. Visit our members-only Facebook group. Connect with like-minded people, share tips, and advice to help get closer to reaching your fitness goals.
