Strength Strength Training Cardio Exercises for Great Shoulders By Paige Waehner facebook linkedin Paige Waehner is a certified personal trainer, author of the "Guide to Become a Personal Trainer"; and co-author of "The Buzz on Exercise & Fitness." Learn about our editorial process Paige Waehner Updated on October 25, 2019 Print Hero Images/Getty Images If you want to get great shoulders, you'll need good genes, a healthy body fat, and exercises that help you build lean, strong shoulder muscles. Shoulder exercises like overhead presses and lateral raises are great, but there are cardio activities that will also help work and shape your shoulders. Best Activities for Your Upper Body Most cardio activities focus on the lower body while neglecting those important upper body muscles. Getting your arms involved will not only help build muscular endurance, it will also help burn more calories to help you slim down. Elliptical Trainer With HandlesThis cardio machine includes arm handles to help build endurance in your upper body while your body burns more calories.Boxing/KickboxingHitting big heavy bags can help build a strong upper body. Find clubs in your area where you can learn to box or try videos you can do at home. Kickboxing is an option as well. Adding light weighted gloves can help build endurance in your upper body and burn tons of calories.Swimming In swimming, the upper body is primarily responsible for propelling you through the water. Add a flotation device to keep your lower body stationary, and you've got a powerful arm workout.Upper Body Ergometer You may have seen this machine in your gym and wondered what the heck it does. An Upper Body Ergometer gives you a cardio workout using only your upper body. A great addition to a workout or for someone with a lower-body injury.Trekking PolesWalking and trekking poles are great for burning extra calories, taking the strain off your ankles and knees and, of course, giving your upper body a great workout. Use them while walking, hiking, trekking, and climbing.Medicine Ball Training Medicine balls may remind you of P.E. trauma back in junior high, but they've made a comeback. Incorporate medicine ball training into your workout and burn more calories while working your upper body.Yoga Yoga poses build endurance and strength in your upper body. The bonus is that you build strength everywhere else as well while working on important things like balance, stability, and flexibility. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get exercise tips to make your workouts less work and more fun. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit