05/24/2026
Build your delts, not your traps
It is OK to feel your traps in a lateral raise. They’re working to stabilize through the movement. We don’t want to be taking them through a large range of motion though, both because it’s usually not a goal to build size to the traps, but also because it means we’re taking away from the actual target muscle of the delts.
As long as you use these cues and perform them correctly, you can push them hard and not worry about growing your traps.