Our shoulders get a lot more use than we may think. If your day-to-day tasks require you to pick up, push around or lift anything from boxes to your baby's stroller, a proper shoulder workout can help you avoid pain and small injuries.
"The benefit of working out shoulders is getting natural strength," says fitness trainer and founder of Amenzone Fitness, Amen Iseghohi based in Arizona, adding this natural strength can help us with not only our daily activities, but also help our bodies perfect other exercises like running, walking or a simple push-up.
Shoulders are made up of three bones: the scapula (shoulder blade), the humerus (upper arm bone), and the clavicle (collarbone), according to WebMD. Anytime you move your arm, you are also moving your shoulders. Your shoulders are held together by muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
While the term "proper form" gets thrown around a lot around gyms, Iseghohi says it is needed when performing any type of shoulder exercise. Even, for example, lifting heavy weights or not bending your knees, can all lead to shoulder and back injuries. And if you're someone who plays a lot of sports, or has previously injured your shoulder, exercises should be reviewed with a trainer or a doctor before you hit the gym.
And while focusing on just working out your shoulders seems like a good idea, Iseghohi says you should incorporate some of these shoulder workouts below into other types of arm or ab workouts.
Here are Iseghohi's 11 best exercises for your shoulders. Remember, you can do all of these workouts without using a tire. We suggest starting with weights, a medicine ball or a kettlebell before trying a tire.
