military press

[focus80]

standing military press, to the front or behind the neck? heard you have to be carefull going behind the neck, anyone else heard this to be true?

[FueledByYelyah]

sounds about right...i always do seated though

[Bumpus]

standing military press, to the front or behind the neck? heard you have to be carefull going behind the neck, anyone else heard this to be true?

That's what I've heard. You can probably find "studies" to support either way though. I can't keep my spine neutral with behind the head presses(always end up looking down) so I skip them for fronts for this reason.

[focus80]

That's what I've heard. You can probably find "studies" to support either way though. I can't keep my spine neutral with behind the head presses(always end up looking down) so I skip them for fronts for this reason.

yeah, i find av gotta keep me head down of slightly forward to get the bar lower, going to the front is alot more comfortable.

[clorox_me]

pressing behind the neck literally serves no higher purpose over pressing in the front. It can definitely jack up someone's shoulders if they are not flexible enough, though.

[GeneralSerpant]

pressing behind the neck literally serves no higher purpose over pressing in the front. It can definitely jack up someone's shoulders if they are not flexible enough, though.

it's a different exercise. both behind-neck and military press have different conditioning methods.

[Brooksie59]

When you do behind the neck you put your shoulder at its most vulnerable position to dislocate/sublux. When you shoulder in the position of Abduction, Extension, and ER it is at its weakest a joint. So be careful! I avoid behind the neck since I have subluxed my shoulder during highschool and am prone to reinjury

[GeneralSerpant]

When you do behind the neck you put your shoulder at its most vulnerable position to dislocate/sublux. When you shoulder in the position of Abduction, Extension, and ER it is at its weakest a joint. So be careful! I avoid behind the neck since I have subluxed my shoulder during highschool and am prone to reinjury

I've heard of it causing problems. It wasn't mixing too well with my dip workout either, but that's just dips for me. I've never really trained this exercise below 8-9 reps, and that was pretty low. I wouldn't really even go too wide or narrow, everything about this exercise I would just keep in moderation.

[George Costanza]

Behind the neck goodnight sweet rotator cuff.




Do it in front.

[JOHN GARGANI]

think about the kinesiology here; when the bar is BEHIND or FORWARD of the shoulder joint, there are potential problems....

when the weight that is being lifted is centered over the entire shoulder girdle, you will do much better.

there are two ways to do this;

1. use dumbbells

2. use some sort of lever type machine


either one will allow that better and safer positioning....

[pipqpi]

Mot people tend to lower their heads when doing behind the head military press. Causes undue stress and bad form.

[first blood]

Only do mine in front. Only standing.

Absolutely love standing military press, great exercise

[Farley1324]

A military press is by definition in front, standing, strict and with heels together


And j vote against behind the neck work as a generality

[clorox_me]

it's a different exercise. both behind-neck and military press have different conditioning methods.

please explain on these different conditioning methods.

[SL1D3R]

I do both. I go in front if I want to go heavy and I go behind the neck when I want to do supersets or max reps. But, I would never pile on a lot of weight and put it behind my neck.

[first blood]

A military press is by definition in front, standing, strict and with heels together


And j vote against behind the neck work as a generality

Heels together?

[PeterGibbons316]

Heels together?

Yes. As if you are standing at attention - hence the name "military" press. If your heels aren't touching it is just a standing overhead press.

[kanis999]

Front is the way to go. I generally try to avoid any heavy exercise where the cervical spine is curved forward (i.e. your chin is pulled towards the chest). I saw a guy in the gym yesterday doing bent over rear delt flies, and the back of his neck looked like a camel's back. To make things worse he was jerking the weight up. It looked extremely dangerous.

[Farley1324]

Heels together?

Yes. As if you are standing at attention - hence the name "military" press. If your heels aren't touching it is just a standing overhead press.

Exactly

[Rog447]

I prefer seated shoulder press's, my favorites are....

DB Shoulder Press
Smith Shoulder Press (Front and Behind the neck)
Hammer Strength Shoulder Press

I wouldn't do heavy standing behind the neck presses, but everyone is different. I know some guys who love them and use upwards of 225 on them.

[rutzilla]

Exactly

I would tip the f**k over with heels together.

Maruis doing shoulders--mine tore just watching this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZc6J89b1-E

Charles Glass has his boys behind the neck only down to ears.

I stopped them years ago.

[Farley1324]

I would tip the f**k over with heels together.

No balance, eh?

[Yungbl00d]

A military press is by definition in front, standing, strict and with heels together


And j vote against behind the neck work as a generality

this kids a clown, heels together dont help you with anything. Its pointles and wont improve u at all. its like doin squats one of dem gigantic workout balls like making the exercise harder fo no reason and just to say u made it harder

[Farley1324]

heels together dont help you with anything.

Did anybody say it would?

Its pointles and wont improve u at all.

Most people probably agree with that (as in relative to a regular standing press it won't do anything extra for you). I haven't seen a single person post a video of themselves doing a military press on bb.com that I can recall. Nor have I ever seen a single person do it at the gym.

its like doin squats one of dem gigantic workout balls like making the exercise harder fo no reason and just to say u made it harder

I wouldn't go that far, though.

[PeterGibbons316]

I haven't seen a single person post a video of themselves doing a military press on bb.com that I can recall.

I posted this at one point:



HEELS ARE TOUCHING!!!

[Farley1324]

Yes yes, I remember that. It went over most people's heads though I think

[rutzilla]

No balance, eh?

Balence left when I tore both quad terndons, left one is held on by only 20% right one reattached. My core is not half bad though.

After yourt original post I was imagining, standing there at the position of attention, doing presses, reciting my general orders for every rep-flashback to bootcamp.