An important part of overall toning

In the world of amateur fitness, deltoids (shoulders) are arguably the least targeted of any muscle group. That’s not to say women don’t work their shoulders, just that they’re not often focused on delt improvement.

Women gravitate towards moves geared to a few specific body parts - abs, buns and thighs. Since these are their perceived trouble spots they’d rather focus their efforts on them than waste time working “unnecessary” muscles. Good thing the rest of us know spot reduction is a myth.

Maybe people avoid working the delts because they are a less visual muscle and it takes longer to see results. Then there’s the fact the area is prone to injuries, which if incurred are slow to heal.

Even the triceps get more action than shoulders, and they’re a much smaller part of the total arm strength package, which is exactly why it’s important to include deltoid exercises in your strength training program.

Where are they located?

There are three heads to the deltoid muscle. The anterior section is located at the front of the shoulders, the posterior is located at the back of the shoulders, and the lateral is located on the side.

What do they do?

Deltoids form the rounded contour of the shoulders. They are responsible for all movements in the shoulders, including rotation and raising and lowering.

Why you should strengthen your deltoids

There’s a reason women used to wear clothing with shoulder pads (although few of us would be caught dead in a square-shouldered suit jacket today). Prominent shoulders make you look slimmer. They’re also the first indication of posture, which we all know can have a positive or negative affect on our appearance. Aside from the visual appeal, strong delts allow women to complete everyday tasks with ease and can help prevent injury.

Exercises that target the deltoids

It’s important to incorporate movements that target each of the deltoid’s three sections. Make sure to warm up properly and perform each exercise correctly to avoid injury.