Lying on a bench, the arms open wide in an arc with soft elbows until the dumbbells are level with the chest, then hug back up: the fly with free weights, which the arms must steady themselves rather than following a machine's or cable's path.
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Chest fly family
Dumbbell fly
Harder option
These tiers compare demands within this family, not universal safety or a mandatory sequence. Load, range, balance and your circumstances can change difficulty. Choose deliberately; pain does not select a progression.
Lying on a bench, the arms open wide in an arc with soft elbows until the dumbbells are level with the chest, then hug back up: the fly with free weights, which the arms must steady themselves rather than following a machine's or cable's path.
DemandMedium
Equipment requiredA dumbbell + A bench or box
Muscle focusChest · Shoulders
The figure gets into position, then repeats the movement. Technical checks passed; qualified exercise review is pending.
Watch this variation on the 3D figure above: it gets into position, then repeats the movement.
Source-researched guide. Clinical review is pending.
How to move
Lie on a bench with a dumbbell in each hand over the chest, palms facing each other.
Open the arms wide in an arc, elbows softly bent, until the weights are level with the chest.
Bring them back up over the chest as if hugging a barrel.
Form cues
Keep the same slight elbow bend throughout.
Stop at chest level; the shoulders should not be stretched past comfort.
Practice and cautions
No universal dose is assigned. Choose a manageable amount for your current capacity, leave room for controlled repetitions, and allow recovery. A clinician’s individual plan takes priority.
This is movement education, not an assessment or treatment prescription. Stop for sharp or increasing pain, dizziness, numbness or tingling; seek individual guidance for symptoms, injury or restrictions.
Unlicense · Free Exercise DB contributors; derived from wrkout/exercises.json. Text import; no photographs or media. · Revision f00c92c7dcf1216a928a52c3706c7ce8e2f71ed5