Dumbbell Exercises
Presses, rows, curls and raises with dumbbells, where each side lifts its own weight along its own path.
29 exercises
What dumbbell training is good for
Dumbbells let each arm move independently, which does two useful things. Side-to-side differences show up immediately, because the weaker arm can't hide behind the stronger one. And the wrists and shoulders are free to rotate, so the path adapts to your joints instead of the other way round. They also allow a longer range than a barbell: a dumbbell can travel past the chest on a press or deeper into the stretch on a fly.
The limits are load and setup. Getting heavy dumbbells into position for a press is a lift in itself, and most gyms run out of weight long before your legs do — which is why dumbbells suit upper-body and single-leg work better than heavy squatting and pulling. They are still the most versatile tool in the room: one pair covers pressing, rowing, curling, raises, hinges and carries, and a home setup with adjustable dumbbells can train every muscle group in this library.