What exercises work the rib cage muscles the best???

[charisteleios]

Hey guys, I've heard that overhead press/military press works the rib cage muscles a bit but thats it. What is the best exercise for developing them???

[W8isGR8]

Hey guys, I've heard that overhead press/military press works the rib cage muscles a bit but thats it. What is the best exercise for developing them???

Are you talking about the serratus?

[Tyrbolift]

Hey guys, I've heard that overhead press/military press works the rib cage muscles a bit but thats it. What is the best exercise for developing them???

Pullovers

[rubber3]

Hey guys, I've heard that overhead press/military press works the rib cage muscles a bit but thats it. What is the best exercise for developing them???

Pullovers
Stiff arm pulldowns
Side bends
Lat shrugs with elbows in
Lat shrugs on dip stand with elbows in front of you

[AnaerobicAndrew]

Serratus anterior and pec minor development will give the impression of a larger rib cage. Pullovers are the best for this IMO.

[W8isGR8]

Technically, DB presses on a high incline would work best, @80 degrees. That allows the scapula to protract as well as rotate outwards, both of which are functions of the serratus.

Edit: Also, the serratus are involved with elevation of the shoulderblades as well.

[Dominik]

Technically, DB presses on a high incline would work best, @80 degrees. That allows the scapula to protract as well as rotate outwards, both of which are functions of the serratus.

Edit: Also, the serratus are involved with elevation of the shoulderblades as well.

Just to expand on that in case a few can't visualize it, the lockout motion with scapular protraction (abduction) is what targets the serratus, like this. You could use dumbbells, cables, or a shoulder press machine to achieve the same thing.

So if you're locking out your overhead presses and then "pushing" the shoulders up as far as possible (as if you're trying to reach something higher like touching a ceiling), you'll be targeting it.

[AnaerobicAndrew]

Just to expand on that in case a few can't visualize it, the lockout motion with scapular protraction (abduction) is what targets the serratus, like this. You could use dumbbells, cables, or a shoulder press machine to achieve the same thing.

So if you're locking out your overhead presses and then "pushing" the shoulders up as far as possible (as if you're trying to reach something higher like touching a ceiling), you'll be targeting it.

Bingo, very nice.