What is the action of the shoulder joint during the lowering phase of lateral raises?

During the lowering phase of lateral raises, the shoulder joint performs an adduction movement. When lifting weights in a lateral raise, the arms are raised out to the side and then brought back down. The initial lifting action involves abduction, but as the arms are lowered back down to the starting position, they move toward the midline of the body, which is characterized by adduction.

Adduction at the shoulder joint means decreasing the angle between the arm and the side of the body, effectively bringing the arms back together. This action is essential in understanding how the shoulder functions during exercises and activities that involve raising and lowering the arms.

The other choices involve different movements that do not accurately describe the action that occurs during the lowering phase of lateral raises. Horizontal adduction and horizontal abduction refer to movements in the horizontal plane, typically occurring when the arms are moved forward or backward at shoulder height. However, in the lowering phase of a lateral raise, the focus is on vertical movement and returning the arms toward the body, thus engaging adduction rather than any horizontal movements.