Proper form?

picabloo · 01-15-2008, 04:59 PM

For the past few months I have been doing my barbell shoulder presses on a slightly inclined bench. Then a personal trainer at the gym told me I was doing it wrong. She said I should have the seat straight up, with my back straight. I tried it... but it hurts my back wayyy too much... what do you guys do??

auburnman1 · 01-15-2008, 05:09 PM

barbell shoulder presses on a slightly inclined bench would just be incline bench. if u want to do shoulder presses then yes that personal trainer was right. just don't arch your back when doing them, or else u WILL get pains.

picabloo · 01-15-2008, 05:17 PM

a slightly inclined bench is like 80-85degrees....inclined bench is approx 35 degrees...

CrusaderMuscle · 01-15-2008, 07:03 PM

I find that when I'm arching my back on barbell shoulder presses, I'm usually using too much weight. Try dropping the weight a bit.

42gunz · 01-15-2008, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by picabloo

For the past few months I have been doing my barbell shoulder presses on a slightly inclined bench. Then a personal trainer at the gym told me I was doing it wrong. She said I should have the seat straight up, with my back straight. I tried it... but it hurts my back wayyy too much... what do you guys do??

your fine. the slight incline is ok, unless your not feeling it in your delts. doing those presses straight over head is not so great for that shoulder joint. there is muscle impingement, and added stress on that ac joint. do whats comfortable for you... i cant stand trainers who try to step in and give their 2 cents.... just because they took a weekend course, watched a couple of videos, and ate a chiken breast for lunch.

deeturnerjr72 · 01-15-2008, 08:36 PM

Hell I guess im all screwed up then. I stick a flat bench(no back) in the squat rack and do BB presses. Hell sometimes I just say screw it and do em standing up in the squat rack.

KM · 01-15-2008, 09:00 PM

The back has a natraul arch, it's ok to arch a little bit. Also an adjustable seat at 85 degrees is hardly incline come on, If the chair was straight up, it'd be pointless. That 5-10 degree deficit actually hits my front deltoids a very little bit more.

Don't worry about it, continue.

picabloo · 01-15-2008, 10:22 PM

oh ok thanx man, i feel like it hits mine better too with the slight incline.

skb_chris · 01-15-2008, 10:40 PM

i do this also.

as long u will the muscle is getting worked which is ur shoulders and lats then its working.

i see nothing wrong with it, keep going with it. screw the girl.

KM · 01-15-2008, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skb_chris

i see nothing wrong with it, keep going with it. screw the girl.

In what way?

ikzn · 01-15-2008, 10:46 PM

Barbell military presses should be done with a straight back seat. It probably isn't 85 degree's, but actually alot more angled then you expect. And since it is, you feel as it 'hits' you better on it because you get to use more weight since you are now using a bit of your upper chest muscles from the slight incline. It's like you doing dumbbell shoulder presses on a slightly inclined bench which is really suppose to be performed on a straight back seat. My say is, don't do what your currently doing, and listen to the trainer on this one.

**mabo** · 01-15-2008, 11:03 PM

I prefer something like a 80^ incline to having the seat straight up and down. It feels unnatural to have the seat at 90^.

deeturnerjr72 · 01-15-2008, 11:10 PM

When in doubt just do em standing up like the chick in this video.....your gonna crack up! LOL!

YouTube - Kara Bohigian Standing Military Press