Chest exercise

Incline Dumbbell Press

ChestDumbbellBeginner

The incline dumbbell press is a chest exercise that targets the chest with dumbbell. Watch the demo, then follow the step-by-step form guide below.

Looping demonstration — tap play to watch the full movement.

How to do the incline dumbbell press

  1. Lie back on an incline bench with a dumbbell in each hand atop your thighs. The palms of your hands will be facing each other.

  2. Then, using your thighs to help push the dumbbells up, lift the dumbbells one at a time so that you can hold them at shoulder width.

  3. Once you have the dumbbells raised to shoulder width, rotate your wrists forward so that the palms of your hands are facing away from you. This will be your starting position.

  4. Be sure to keep full control of the dumbbells at all times. Then breathe out and push the dumbbells up with your chest.

  5. Lock your arms at the top, hold for a second, and then start slowly lowering the weight. Tip Ideally, lowering the weights should take about twice as long as raising them.

  6. Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.

  7. When you are done, place the dumbbells back on your thighs and then on the floor. This is the safest manner to release the dumbbells.

Details

Primary muscles
Chest
Secondary muscles
ShouldersTriceps
Equipment & classification
DumbbellLevel: BeginnerForce: PushMechanic: Compound

Browse all chest exercises, read our best dumbbell chest exercises guide, or return to the exercise library.

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Educational information only — not medical advice. Stop if you feel pain and talk to your healthcare provider before starting a new exercise program.

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