The band lateral raise is a shoulder exercise that targets the medial or middle head of the deltoid muscle. It's a variation of the dumbbell lateral raise, a staple strength-training move. The band lateral raise is a great option for warm-up or accessory work on upper-body training days. The dynamic tension of the band provides constant tension and matches the strength curve of the movement. It is usually performed for moderate to high reps, at least 8-12 reps, as part of the upper-body or shoulder-focused portion of a workout.