How to perform Dumbbell Overhead Squat with proper form
Setup
- Stand Upright: Feet shoulder-width apart.
- Hold the Dumbbell: Grip one dumbbell with both hands, arms extended overhead, and palms facing each other.
Execution
- Engage Core: Tighten your abdominal muscles.
- Initiate Squat: Hinge at the hips and bend your knees, lowering your body as if sitting back onto a chair.
- Keep Dumbbell Steady: Maintain the dumbbell overhead, ensuring your arms are straight and aligned with your shoulders.
- Depth of Squat: Aim to lower your hips below parallel while keeping your chest upright.
- Knees Tracking: Ensure your knees are aligned with your toes and do not collapse inward.
- Pushing Through Heels: As you rise, drive through your heels to return to the standing position.
Tips
- Posture: Keep your back straight throughout the movement.
- Breathing: Inhale on the way down and exhale as you rise.
- Mobility Check: Ensure sufficient shoulder and ankle mobility for optimal range of motion.
Common Mistakes
- Overarching lower back.
- Allowing knees to buckle inward.
- Moving the dumbbell too far forward or backward.
Focus on maintaining control and stability during the entire movement.
Exercises

Box Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Box Squat, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Bulgarian Split Squat, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Calf Press on Leg Press, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Calves

Calf Press on Seated Leg Press, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Calves, Quadriceps
Synergist: Glutes, Hamstrings

Elliptical Machine, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Synergist: Biceps, Forearms, Shoulders, Glutes, Hamstrings, Back, Chest, Quadriceps

Front Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Front Squat, Cable
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Front Squat, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Front Squat, Smith Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Front Squat, Kettlebell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Glute Bridge, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Glute Bridge, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Glute Bridge, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Glute Bridge March, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Abs
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Glute Kickback, Cable
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Abs

Glute Kickback, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Abs

Goblet Squat, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Goblet Squat, Kettlebell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Good Morning, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Hamstrings
Synergist: Glutes
Good Morning, Smith Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Hamstrings
Synergist: Glutes
Good Morning, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Hamstrings
Synergist: Glutes
Hack Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves
Hack Squat, Smith Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves
Hip Abductor, Cable
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Hip Abductor, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Hip Abductor, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Hip Abductor, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Hip Adductor, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Hamstrings, Glutes
Synergist: Quadriceps
Hip Thrust, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps
Hip Thrust, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps
Hip Thrust, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps
Hip Thrust, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps
Jump Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves
Jump Squat, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves
Leg Extension, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Glutes
Leg Extension, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Glutes
Leg Press, Smith Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves
Leg Press, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves
Lunge, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves
Lunge, Cable
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves
Lunge, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves
Lunge, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves
Lying Leg Curl, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Hamstrings
Synergist: Calves
Lying Leg Curl, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Hamstrings
Synergist: Calves
Overhead Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Glutes, Calves
Overhead Squat, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Glutes, Calves
Pistol Squat, Kettlebell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves
Pistol Squat, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves
Pistol Squat, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves
Reverse Lunge, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Glutes
Reverse Lunge, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Glutes
Reverse Lunge, Kettlebell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Glutes
Reverse Lunge, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Glutes
Romanian Deadlift, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Back, Glutes, Hamstrings
Synergist: Abs, Calves
Romanian Deadlift, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Back, Glutes, Hamstrings
Synergist: Abs, Calves
Safety Squat Bar Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Back, Calves
Seated Calf Raise, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Calves
Seated Calf Raise, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Calves
Seated Calf Raise, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Calves
Seated Leg Curl, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Hamstrings
Synergist: Calves, Quadriceps
Seated Leg Press, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves
Side Hip Abductor, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Side Hip Abductor, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Side Hip Abductor, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Side Lying Clam, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Single Leg Bridge, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Abs
Synergist: Shoulders, Hamstrings, Chest
Single Leg Deadlift, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Back, Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings
Single Leg Deadlift, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Back, Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings
Single Leg Glute Bridge Bent Knee, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Single Leg Glute Bridge On Bench, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Single Leg Glute Bridge Straight Leg, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Single Leg Hip Thrust, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps
Single Leg Hip Thrust, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps
Single Leg Hip Thrust, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps
Sissy Squat, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings
Split Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves
Split Squat, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves
Split Squat, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves
Split Squat, Kettlebell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves
Split Squat, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves
Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Back, Abs
Squat, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Back, Abs
Squat, Smith Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Back, Abs
Squat, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Back, Abs
Squat, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Back, Abs
Standing Calf Raise, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Calves
Standing Calf Raise, Cable
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Calves
Standing Calf Raise, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Calves
Standing Calf Raise, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Calves
Standing Calf Raise, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Calves
Step up, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves
Step up, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves
Step up, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves
Step up, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves
Stiff Leg Deadlift, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Back, Glutes, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Abs
Stiff Leg Deadlift, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Back, Glutes, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Abs
Stiff Leg Deadlift, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Back, Glutes, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Abs
Straight Leg Deadlift, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Glutes
Straight Leg Deadlift, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Glutes
Straight Leg Deadlift, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Glutes
Straight Leg Deadlift, Kettlebell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Glutes
Sumo Deadlift, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps, Hamstrings, Back
Synergist: Abs, Biceps, Forearms
Trap Bar Deadlift, Trap Bar
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves
Zercher Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves
