Lateral raises

I've made good progress in all of my lifting across the past 2 or 3 months, doubling or tripling the weight (at least, I think thats good progress). 
 
However, I can't get my lateral raises to increase at all.  I've compared my form with a handful of sites, and don't think I'm doing anything wrong, but nothings out of the question, of course.
 
Mainly concerned about the backs of my shoulders (posterior deltoids?) - the progress in all of my other muscles is substantial, but these are noticeably & visually falling behind. 
 
Perhaps this isn't even an exercise I need to be concerned with?
 
Thanks for any help!
 
- J

your rear delts would be worked more with rear delt raises and cable rows to chest. also about increasing the weight it's a tough exercise that uses pretty low weights so it would be hard to notice significant increases in a short time

Unless you have some consideral time under your belt training, I don't think you should be worried about your rear delts..  If you're doing overhead presses and Bent over rows, seated rows.. they'll get plenty of stimulation.

There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing

 

Typically one wouldn't be concerned with the weight of such a small exercise. Usually it's just the big 3 (bench, squat, deadlift) and maybe Olympic lifts. Lateral raises aren't for your posterior delts. You could either post your program in critique or post some pictures of yourself in critique my physique and we could help you a bit more.

5'6" 125/ Bench: 115 / Front squat: 90 / Deadlift: 205 / Pullups: 10

with lateral raises, its extremely difficult to increase the weights, ive been using the same weight for about 3 weeks now, no concern tho...it would be impossible to increase 5 lbs a week...as long as ur growing..thats all that matters

Yeah, theres just certain exercises that aren't going to progress like the others, this being one of them.

Personally I like to progress differently than just upping the weights with these kinds of exercises. I like to either increase the reps, or increase the lifting tempo.

And like its been said I believe the increase of weight should mostly be concentrated on the bigger compound lifts.

ORIGINAL: jonb112303

with lateral raises, its extremely difficult to increase the weights, ive been using the same weight for about 3 weeks now, no concern tho...it would be impossible to increase 5 lbs a week...as long as ur growing..thats all that matters

current 3x3 max's (Work in progress)
Squat:325
Deadlift:380
Bench:265
BB Row:225
My lifting journal
http://strengthmill.net/forum/showthread.php?p=16591#post16591

different exercise but somewhat similar...i remember milos sarcev saying he and his training partners get up to 100lb. on rear delt raises when they're fresh

Haha. Don't think I'll ever try that.... I like having my shoulders attached to me.
 
OP: Lateral raises are hard to increase. That doesn't mean that you won't be making progress in the medial/rear delts by keeping the same weight.
I do lateral raises towards the end of my workouts. This way the muscles are already exhausted, so there is no need to go heavy. 20-25lbs will suffice.
Also by keeping the weight low you make sure that you're not throwing them up there. You will be able to keep the movement controlled.
If you do pinkies out then it'll hit those muscles harder, cause the whole movement will be keeping the pressure on those muscles.
 

ORIGINAL: David1991

different exercise but somewhat similar...i remember milos sarcev saying he and his training partners get up to 100lb. on rear delt raises when they're fresh

Failure isn't falling down... it's staying down.

why does having the pinkie's out matter?

t'bars and bent over BB rows will build your rear delt/shoulder....

i thought i had nice shoulders before when i was doing all kinds of bent over raises and side raises.
but i did away with those exercises and did a full body routine with a lot of rows, and my shoulders grew even bigger than i thought they could.

My name is FOX.... and I approve this message.

I thought side laterals worked the mid delts? Anyway I haven't been lifting long and it didn't take long to figure out you can't increase in this exercise like the rest. I picked up the 25's and figured out quick that wasn't going to work. I suppose I could have slung them up there.

"proper form!"

...

rim shot!

...

ORIGINAL: pumped340

why does having the pinkie's out matter?

current 3x3 max's (Work in progress)
Squat:325
Deadlift:380
Bench:265
BB Row:225
My lifting journal
http://strengthmill.net/forum/showthread.php?p=16591#post16591

ORIGINAL: Atomic

I thought side laterals worked the mid delts? Anyway I haven't been lifting long and it didn't take long to figure out you can't increase in this exercise like the rest. I picked up the 25's and figured out quick that wasn't going to work. I suppose I could have slung them up there.

If I ever do them I use 10s and keep my arms strait. Nice slow movement. Adding weight and bending arms is just ego. Do whatever weight you can lift. No one is ever going to care what you lat raise.

5'6" 125/ Bench: 115 / Front squat: 90 / Deadlift: 205 / Pullups: 10

As long as you keep proper form you shouldn´t be concerned about how much weight you increase.  You have to feel the exercises not just move the weight.  Rear delt raises have a very stict movement and requires for you to move just your arms without bouncing your body all over the place.
 
If you consider it a lagging part perhaps you can move it up on your shoulder workout and do it at the beginning when you are fresh, normally people go for the presses, then lateral, front raises and leave the rear delt for last.  Switch it up, perhaps even adding supersets to your workout to increase the intensity.

Even if you can't go up in weights, go up in the amount of reps. Do an extra rep.

Pullups work the rear delts as well.