Behind the neck press, good or bad?

[NickW]

I heard that it was bad on your shoulders, especially the rotater cuff. Is that true? And do any of you powerlifters incorperate this into your workout?

 

[Rocket]

I've heard the same thing but I like the movement so I do them and just stay under 225lbs. Never had a problem!

Rocket

 

[Bigsatan13]

They can expose the rotaror cuff to injury if improper form is incorporated into the movement. Don't go below the ears and you should be fine.

 

[powerlifterjay]

I would say if you have to shoulder press do them to the front. I used to go pretty heavy with seated militay presses. But always felt pain in my shoulder, since i quit them altogether my bench has increased around 100lbs. Only recently have started doing them light on the hammer machine. I am constantly nursing a bad shoulder anyway. I had to injuries last year on the same side. In March 2001 i hurt my AC joint. Then In sept i hhurt my rotator. So i am very cautious with movements (any) overhead.

 

[Welsh power house]

i agree with powerlifterJ, behind the neck presses can and do put alot of stress on the rotators so military presses are a safer option. I find that seated d/b presses are better for strength and size gains as it takes more control to keep each arm 'on course' through out the movement and places alot less stress on the rotators, well they are alot easier for me and give me far less pain in the rear delt/rotator area afterwards.

Stick with dumbells or military press.

 

[Cubanito17]

Hey guys i do seated behind the neck press the only reason i switched to it was b/c i was told by many that your power comes from your back so i figured that behind the neck(back) would bring me more power. If it's bad then how come i can do 20lbs more in front(military press) than i can in back. Does that mean I stil have a weak back side.

 

[The mann]

i'm with jay,.......that's how i fucked up my shoulder,i don't even do them in back anymore........

 

[Jabs]

If it feels good go ahead and do them. My workout partner has been doing them 15yrs no problems. For me its uncomfortable to do them. To each there own.

 

[brianmincher]

I can't seem to do them without hitting my damn head. No pain no gain.

 

[femhardbody]

When I do military presses I feel them primarily in the front and side delts, so for balance I do behind the necks so I can feel my rear and side delts. Dumbell presses are like military presses in that they involve a lot of front delt, so you never get to feel the rear delts during pressing movements. I would never give a client with shoulder problems behind the neck presses, but if you personally have no problems and understand proper form go ahead and do them. The form issue is that most people do them with their elbows angled too far back which causes impingement, when the right way to do them is with the elbows down. Just be careful with these.