conceptshoulder-exercises
Progressive resistance training
Notes
Progressive resistance training
One-line summary: Whole-body resistance-training prescription that raises strength and hypertrophy versus no exercise; retrieved abstracts do not rank named shoulder lifts.
This page is research synthesis, not medical advice.
The insight
Healthy-adult overviews report that progressive resistance training beats no exercise for strength and size, with heavier loads and multiple sets ranked for strength. The same abstracts do not name overhead press, lateral raise, row, or face pull as shoulder-specific winners. From 2026-08-22-academic-research-effective-shoulder-exercises-strength.
Evidence
- From 2026-08-22-academic-research-effective-shoulder-exercises-strength: Currier et al. 2026 (ACSM overview of 137 systematic reviews, >30,000 participants) — RT versus no exercise improved strength, size, power, endurance, and several function outcomes. Voluntary strength was enhanced by heavier loads (≥80% 1RM), a complete range of motion, 2–3 sets, placing the lift at the start of the session, and ≥2 sessions/week; hypertrophy by ≥10 sets/week and eccentric overload.
- From 2026-08-22-academic-research-effective-shoulder-exercises-strength: Currier et al. 2023 (Bayesian NMA; 178 strength trials, n=5,097) — all RT prescriptions beat no-exercise control; highest-ranked strength prescription was higher-load, multiset, thrice-weekly (SMD 1.60 vs control); highest-ranked hypertrophy was higher-load, multiset, twice-weekly (SMD 0.66 vs control).
- From 2026-08-22-academic-research-effective-shoulder-exercises-strength: “Those reviews synthesize whole-body resistance training. The retrieved abstracts do not name overhead press, lateral raise, seated row, or face pull as shoulder-specific winners.”
Contradictions / tensions
- Whole-body RT evidence is stronger than the shoulder-lift list the question asked for. See shoulder-external-rotation-exercise for the named-drill (EMG / isokinetic) layer.
Open questions
Related
Referenced by