Chair Lateral Raises: how to do it

Chair Lateral Raises

Gentle

Seated

Arms

Neck & shoulders

Starts at 5:06 in “Seniors Can Get A Slim Down While Sitting! [Chair Workout]”. The time is from YouTube's automatic chapters, so it may be a few seconds out.

What it is

Lift your arms out to the sides to shoulder height, then lower. Works the shoulders.

How to do it

Sit tall with arms by your sides.
Lift both arms out to the sides, elbows soft.
Stop at shoulder height.
Lower slowly.

Key tip: Lead with your elbows and keep your shoulders down away from your ears.

Who should skip it, and why

Lifting your arm out to the side is painful. This is the exact movement that irritates a sore rotator cuff. Keep the lift low or skip it.

Easier and harder versions

Easier: Lift only halfway.
Harder: Hold for 2 seconds at the top, or use light water bottles.

How much

In our videos each move runs for about 40 seconds with 20 seconds of rest. Start with less if you need to. Comfortable effort is the goal, not exhaustion.

Try it: 3 rounds of 40 seconds

Stop straight away and get help if you feel:

chest pain, pressure or tightness
dizziness, light-headedness or faintness
breathlessness that doesn't settle when you rest
sharp or joint pain, or pain that gets worse as you go
numbness, tingling, or a sudden severe headache

This is general exercise information, not medical advice. If you have a health condition, or you've had a fall, injury or surgery recently, check with your doctor or physiotherapist first.