Cable Full Front Raise
Cable Full Front Raise Exercise Description
The Cable Full Front Raise is a shoulder-strength exercise emphasizing the anterior deltoid through a long, consistent line of pull. Using a low pulley keeps continuous tension on the arm as you lift from the front of the thigh to just overhead in the sagittal plane. Secondary contributors include the upper and lower trapezius and serratus anterior for scapular upward rotation, with the rotator cuff stabilizing the glenohumeral joint. A slight elbow bend and a thumbs-up or neutral wrist position help maintain smooth shoulder mechanics throughout the arc. Expect a focused front-shoulder challenge without relying on momentum, as the cable resists both the lifting and lowering phases.
- Muscle Groups: Delts, Shoulders
- Target Muscles: Deltoid - Anterior
- Assisting Muscles: Serratus Anterior, Trapezius - Lower Fibers, Trapezius - Upper Fibers
- Stabilizing Muscles: Infraspinatus, Subscapularis, Supraspinatus, Teres Minor
- Body Area: Upper Body
- Body Parts: Shoulders
- Body Surface: Front
- Body Symmetry: Unilateral
- Equipment: Cable
- Exercise Patterns: Other
- Exercise Type: Strength
- Functional Grouping: Shoulder Flexors
- Joint Involvement: Single-joint
- Muscle Location: Front Shoulder
- Movement Direction: Vertical
- Muscle Position: Anterior
- Gender: Male
How To Do The Cable Full Front Raise Exercise
‘- Set the pulley to the lowest position and attach a single D-handle.
– Stand tall facing away from the stack; feet about hip-width, knees softly unlocked.
– Hold the handle at the front of your thigh with a thumbs-up (neutral) grip; other arm relaxed at your side.
– Brace your trunk, ribs down, and maintain a neutral spine; set shoulders down and slightly back without over-retracting.
– Keep a slight, fixed bend at the elbow and neutral wrist.
– Raise the arm forward in the sagittal plane, leading with the knuckles, until the hand reaches eye level to just overhead—without arching the low back or shrugging early.
– Allow natural scapular upward rotation near the top; neck stays long.
– Lower the arm along the same path under control until the handle returns near the thigh without letting the stack touch down abruptly.
– Pause to eliminate swing, reset posture, and repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
– Switch arms and repeat on the other side.
Cable Full Front Raise Tips
‘- Stand tall facing away from the stack with feet about hip-width and knees softly unlocked before you start.
– Brace your trunk with ribs down and maintain a neutral spine as you move.
– Set your shoulders down and slightly back without over-retracting before beginning each raise.
– Keep a slight, fixed bend in the elbow and a neutral (thumbs-up) wrist throughout the lift and lower.
– Raise the arm straight forward in the sagittal plane, leading with the knuckles from the front of your thigh to eye level or just overhead.
– Avoid arching your lower back or shrugging early as you lift.
– Allow natural scapular upward rotation near the top of the movement while keeping your neck long.
– Lower the arm along the same path under control until the handle returns near your thigh, without letting the stack touch down abruptly.
– Pause at the bottom to eliminate any swing, reset your posture, then begin the next rep.
– Complete all reps on one arm, then switch arms and repeat on the other side.
Cable Full Front Raise Beginner Introduction
The Cable Full Front Raise is a cable-based shoulder movement that highlights the front of the shoulders using a low pulley and single handle. The arm travels in front of the body against the cable’s pull, moving from near the thigh up to around head height or slightly above. Because the resistance comes from the cable at a low point, tension stays on the working side through both the upward and downward portions of the motion, encouraging a smooth, controlled arc rather than a swing.
This exercise primarily targets the front shoulder area while also calling on the upper back, the muscles around the shoulder blade, and the smaller stabilizing muscles of the shoulder joint. The arm typically maintains a gentle bend at the elbow, with the hand in a comfortable, thumbs-up or palm-in position to support easy joint movement through the lift. The emphasis is on steady mechanics and deliberate pacing, creating a focused challenge for the shoulders from start to finish.