Every dedicated gym-goer knows about leg day and chest day, but you won’t hear many talk about shoulder day. It’s a sign that the shoulders don’t get the attention they deserve.
That’s the opinion of shoulder specialist Carlos Cobiella, a London-based consultant orthopaedic surgeon. He treats professional athletes and regularly puts training programmes together for clients, and he tells Coach that the shoulders are often neglected.
“Working out your shoulders isn’t just good for aesthetic reasons,” says Cobiella. “As the most mobile joints in the body, the shoulders are responsible for many different muscle actions so it’s crucial to protect the shoulder joint with strength exercises.”
The shoulders are made up of three main muscles: front deltoid, side or lateral deltoid, and rear deltoid. “These are the primary muscles involved in shoulder strength and power,” says Cobiella. “There is no shortage of shoulder exercises, and you don’t need weights to build strength and muscle.”
Here, Cobiella has put together a shoulder workout that targets all three of the big shoulder muscle groups, and it can be integrated into any workout programme.
