Horizontal Shoulder Adduction - How to Perform, Muscles, Variants | SatisFIT Skip to main content

Horizontal Shoulder Adduction

Step by step instructions, muscle activation and variants for the Horizontal Shoulder Adduction.

EasyFront shouldersUpper chest

About this exercise

Shoulder transverse adduction moves the arm horizontally inward from an abducted position across the body, working in the transverse plane. It engages the pectorals and anterior deltoid, and mirrors the motion of a chest fly, making it a useful mobility and activation drill for the front of the shoulder. The chest only activates if you actively squeeze your arms toward each other as if pressing against resistance.

How to Perform

  • Stand tall and raise your arms out to the sides at shoulder height, parallel to the floor
  • Keep a slight bend in the elbows for comfort
  • Slowly sweep both arms forward and inward across the body in the horizontal plane
  • Continue until the arms are close together in front of you
  • Return the arms to the starting position in a controlled manner and repeat

Muscle Activation

Primary
Front shouldersUpper chestMiddle chest

Common Mistakes

Common mistakes content is coming soon.

About the Horizontal Shoulder Adduction

The Horizontal Shoulder Adduction is a foundational movement that builds strength and muscle through controlled, progressive overload. Train it 1 to 2 times per week with 3 to 5 working sets per session, gradually adding weight or reps as form holds up.