The front dumbbell raise is a shoulder exercise where you lift one dumbbell at a time in front of your chest. Keep your upper body still, look straight ahead, and extend your arms to about 90%. Find more shoulder exercises at the weight training main page.
Stand upright with your feet about shoulder-width apart and hold a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing your thighs. Slightly bend your elbows, but keep them in the same position throughout the exercise.
Raise one dumbbell in a wide arc in front of your chest until your arm is parallel to the floor. Exhale as you lift. Keep your back straight and avoid swinging. As you raise the dumbbell, rotate your hand so your palm faces the floor at the top of the movement. It's helpful to perform this exercise in front of a mirror to check your form.
Lower the dumbbell back to the starting position while inhaling. Then repeat the movement with the other arm. The downward motion should be slightly slower than the upward motion.
