Exercise guide
Dumbbell Rear Lunge To Single Arm Shoulders Press
- Intermediate
- Compound
- Rep-based
- Lower legs
- Shoulders
- Upper legs
This compound unilateral movement builds lower body power and upper body stability by combining a reverse lunge with an overhead press. It effectively integrates the glutes, quads, and deltoids while forcing the core to stabilize against an asymmetrical load.
Reviewed by the Crucible team · Updated June 2026
Muscles worked
Setup
- Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding a single dumbbell in one hand at shoulder height in a neutral grip.
- Engage your core and keep your chest upright, ensuring your weight is evenly distributed.
- Position the elbow of the weighted arm slightly in front of your body, not flared out to the side.
How to do it
- Inhale and step back with the leg on the same side as the dumbbell, lowering your hips until both knees are bent at approximately 90 degrees.
- Exhale and drive through your front heel to return to the starting position.
- As you stand up, use the momentum from your legs to press the dumbbell vertically until your arm is fully extended overhead.
- Lower the dumbbell back to shoulder height with control and repeat for the desired reps before switching sides.
Form checklist
- Keep your front knee tracked over your mid-foot, preventing it from caving inward.
- Maintain a vertical torso throughout the lunge to avoid placing excess stress on the lower back.
- Ensure the bicep finishes next to the ear at the top of the press without shrugging the shoulder.
- Brace your abdominals hard to prevent the torso from leaning toward the weighted side.
Pro tips
- Focus on the 'kinetic chain' by timing the start of the press exactly as you begin to rise from the lunge to maximize power transfer.
- Squeeze the glute of the standing leg at the top of the movement to create a stable base for the overhead press.
Make it harder
- Perform the press while holding the bottom of the lunge position to remove leg momentum and increase time under tension.
- Add a knee drive at the top of the movement, bringing the back leg forward and up toward the chest while pressing the weight.
Frequently asked
- What muscles does the dumbbell rear lunge to single arm shoulders press work?
- The dumbbell rear lunge to single arm shoulders press primarily targets the calves, deltoids, glutes, hamstrings, and quadriceps, and also works the obliques as secondary muscles.
- What equipment do you need for the dumbbell rear lunge to single arm shoulders press?
- The dumbbell rear lunge to single arm shoulders press uses dumbbell.
- Is the dumbbell rear lunge to single arm shoulders press good for beginners?
- The dumbbell rear lunge to single arm shoulders press is rated intermediate. Build a base with simpler variations first, then progress to it with light load and strict form.
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