Overhead (military) press question

[eazyb81]

When you guys do overhead presses to work the delts, do you bring them in front of your head or behind it? My w/o partner does military presses using a smith machine, but i've been reading on here and you guys aren't too fond of the smith. Should i just do them w/ an EZ bar sitting on a bench, or standing, or what? Also, is an overhead press just another name for a military press? Thanks for the help.

 

[jerkbox]

standing or seated, in front of my head using a straight bar - that's my preference.

 

[Lord_Suston]

standing or seated, in front of my head using a straight bar - that's my preference.

exactly, great for the whole upper body, yes military is another name for it

 

[eazyb81]

so, do you guys just alternate standing and seated every week, or should i just pick one and concentrate on it for awhile? Are the smith machines not very useful to do for military press?

 

[The Red Dragon]

if your rotator cuffs can handle behind the neck then you can try it...Smith machines are dangerous for the RC's aren't they? I do them at the front...it's harder to do them standing. I alternate between seated and standing but I can't use as much weight standing.

 

[fastgain]

I do very strict standing barbell military presses. I use absolutely no leg drive, keep my back arched, and lightly touch my upper chest on each rep. Standing involves more stabilizers and improves balance and coordination. It's slightly harder (weight-wise) but worth it in my opinion.

 

[Lee]

what all does military work besides delts and tris?

 

[slobberknocker]

what all does military work besides delts and tris?

Upper chest, forearms. If you do them standing you get ab/low back work too.

 

[SeanHolmz]

what all does military work besides delts and tris?

That depends on how you're doing it. Behind the neck tends to work more rear delts and tris where in front works front delts/tris and depending on how you're doing them a little upper chest. I don't think they really work any other muscles besides that. Great exercise.

 

[The Red Dragon]

Front
Target

Deltoid, Anterior
Synergists

Pectoralis Major, Clavicular
Triceps Brachii
Deltoid, Lateral
Trapezius, Middle
Trapezius, Lower
Serratus Anterior, Inferior Digitations
Dynamic Stabilizers

Triceps, Long Head
Biceps Brachii, Short Head
Stabilizers

Trapezius, Upper
Levator Scapulae

<b>BEHIND THE NECK</b>
Muscles
Target

Deltoid, Anterior
Synergists

Deltoid, Lateral
Supraspinatus
Triceps Brachii
Trapezius, Middle
Trapezius, Lower
Serratus Anterior, Inferior Digitations
Dynamic Stabilizers

Triceps, Long Head
Stabilizers

Trapezius, Upper
Levator Scapulae

 

[The Red Dragon]

Beats the shit out of the traps too...good shoulder exercise

 

[papucho]

Dbells would stress more stabilizers IMO.

 

[eazyb81]

i already do seated db presses, so i decided i wanted to switch it up a little and add in military press. Am I correct in assuming that if i do front military presses, that it will hit the front and side delts, but not the rear? Right now I do seated bent over db side laterals for the rear delts, would that be enough for them? Also, should I tell my workout partner to stop using the smith machine for military press, or is not that big of a deal? Thanks for the info bros.

 

[Exodus]

always do overhead press standing............. unless low back is fatigued or injured. it builds synergy(a unison of muscles working together). i hate isolating. the more bodyparts i combine in 1 exercise the better.

imo

X

 

[Becoming]

I do push presses. I have been a big believer in them for a long time. Kind of similar to standing overhead in front of face military... It is more of a power movement though, requires a little balance and coordination, and involves probably the most stablizers including legs, abs and erectors...

 

[Prime Rib]

Don't do behind the neck presses, it's very unnatural and murder on the cuffs.


Josh

 

[Tiervexx]

Don't do behind the neck presses, it's very unnatural and murder on the cuffs.


Josh

i strongly disagree. this will obviously vary from person to person but for me behind the neck is a lot more controled because it is balenced. When you do it infront it is allot harder to balence the weight and keep it moving strait up and down in a grove like you can with behind the neck.

people will argue over safty forever but one thing that is indisputable is that if you can handle behind the neck it is allot more effective for shoulder growth. i hardly ever do front presses but that number keeps going up, but your behind the neck press will not go up much doing them in front, this proves that behind the neck works some important muscles that front presses don't touch.

in short, do presses in front if you feel that behind the neck is to dangerous for you. But i think that as long as your shoulders stay flexable and you don't go too heavy you will be fine.

 

[Tiervexx]

Another important note about shoulder flexibility:

About 6 months ago i started to feel bad cramping in my shoulders. For a while i thought I would not be able to do overhead pressing again but then i figured out that if i stretched with my hand behind my back at a certain angle it would go away. After stretching it out for a few weeks it never came back.

I feel that many shoulder problems could be prevented if people spent more time stretching and balancing all the muscles of the shoulder.