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 Do you still do Benind the Neck Presses?
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| Author | Topic: Do you still do Benind the Neck Presses? |
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Thick dog Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 936) |
posted July 14, 2000 10:17 AM
 
I used to do these religiously up until a few years ago. Now every time I do them, I hurt something or pull a rotator cuff muscle. Now I only do Smith Machine Front presses and Seated Dumbbell presses. I used to do these after benching every other day back in high school. I feel like I am getting old, which is sad at 24. IP: Logged |
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Spunky Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 149) |
posted July 14, 2000 10:21 AM
Yes, i use the smith machine to do them. I only do them every other shoulder day to switch it up a little. IP: Logged |
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havoc Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 319) |
posted July 14, 2000 10:24 AM
TD, behind the neck presses put your shoulder in a degenerative state and it requires a higher degree of flexiblilty making injury much easier. I explain this shit to people everyday, I am not going to look at a person and say damn, look at your shoulders, you must be doing behind the neck presses, they dont do anything noticably different than regular military presses in front or on the Smith or dumbells for that matter , a basic shoulder press is just that, kind of like a curl is a curl, I am sure you knew all this but just trying to make a point, fuck behind the neck, overtime they will hurt you more than help you , unless your shouler joints, ligaments and tendons are stronger than others, genetics plays a role. IP: Logged |
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Thick dog Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 936) |
posted July 14, 2000 10:29 AM
I agree. You have to have awesome flexibility. I believe it was Flex Wheeler who said that doing behind the neck presses is like putting your shoulders in the position where they are most likely to pop out of socket, then adding 300 lbs on top of it. IP: Logged |
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FitnessChick Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 1001) |
posted July 14, 2000 10:32 AM
nope...I stopped doing them a long time ago along with behind the neck pull downs.... I feel it puts you in a precarious position for injury IP: Logged |
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lil'tex Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 90) |
posted July 14, 2000 10:50 AM
i used to be quite strong on behind the neck presses. 185 for reps, etc. had 205 on the bar one day and boom....there goes my rotator cuff. now i only press to the front and use dbs. i have made it back to pressing 135 for reps, but i am far from the good old days. my experience tells me that there is no difference in muscle growth from doing them behind or in front, but behind is definitely riskier. doing them in front also helps me with my upper chest development. IP: Logged |
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Kingpin Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 31) |
posted July 14, 2000 10:54 AM
I still do them religiously. What it sounds like though, is that it is OK to do lighter weight and greater reps for a good shoulder burn. It is harder to cheat with good form behind the neck. IP: Logged |
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BACKDRAFT Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 237) |
posted July 14, 2000 10:55 AM
Just getting over a injury caused by the good old behind the neck press,wont be doing them any more thats for sure!The funny thing is i new the dangers but kept doing them any way,some times I'm as thick as the plates I lift. IP: Logged |
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1 Mistake Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 241) |
posted July 14, 2000 11:03 AM
This exersise is the WORST one in the gym.9 out of 10 people will tell you they hurt themselves doing behind presses.Next time you see someone doing these heavy,watch them and look how bad the body is in a bad angle and over time , will be injured J IP: Logged |
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Kingpin Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 31) |
posted July 14, 2000 11:04 AM
Now you guys are scaring me! Damn! IP: Logged |
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denmaur Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 357) |
posted July 14, 2000 11:09 AM
Yeah I screwed up my shoulders doing them and switched to regular military presses. They work a lot better for me. IP: Logged |
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GymRatSD Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 280) |
posted July 14, 2000 11:12 AM
I wouldn't do a behind-the-neck press if you paid me. My shoulders are in bad enough shape as it is, and I don't need to put them in an unnatural position and put weight on top of it! I wouldn't be able to do the bar alone behing the neck, yet I can do 185 lbs. overhead in front. Bad, BAD movement! IP: Logged |
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Mr. T Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 547) |
posted July 14, 2000 11:19 AM
Yep, I just go light to prevent injury. I love em- IP: Logged |
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Tony72 Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 122) |
posted July 14, 2000 11:20 AM
I still do them everyonce in awhile.I actually like them. But that just me, IP: Logged |
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Doc Ponch Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 93) |
posted July 14, 2000 11:27 AM
I agree. This movement is a shoulder killer. My shoulders used to click when I moved my arms! Probably small cartilage tears. I stopped doing them several years ago and, over time, the problem went away. With so many exercises available for any body part, why do the one's that pose a high risk of injury? The Doctor IP: Logged |
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SMALL Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 59) |
posted July 14, 2000 11:29 AM
funny that...I just did them this morning...first time in a long time...I do dumbell presses now...but the funny thing was i was weaker in that excerise now...only 155lbs for 3 sets of 10 killed me...dumbels i do 80's for 4 sets of 10 in good form...I am wondering if I should start again....I fucking hate that excerise though...It takes every thing out of me..dumbels arn't so bad? like they say what dosen't kill ya....? any thought's? IP: Logged |
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mistah_d Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 80) |
posted July 14, 2000 11:30 AM
Shoulders are one of the easiest joints to injure to to the torque that can be generated on it. Think of your arms as torque levers. Depending o the length of your arms, a 10 lb weight held out straight generates 40lbs. torque on the shoulder. If you look at the range of motion the shoulder is made for, behind the neck presses are at one extreme end of that range. Putting siginificant pressure on any joint at its end of range significantly increases the danger. Besides, there are so many other solid exercises you can do to work the shoulders that limit the risk. IP: Logged |
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roadruler Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 184) |
posted July 14, 2000 11:41 AM
Your right it does give you a higher chance of injury, so does lat pull downs behind the neck, I do them in front. IP: Logged |
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weez Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 154) |
posted July 14, 2000 11:47 AM
I used to do them also, but switched to dumbells only and sometimes the hammer strength machine to mix it up. I would always pull something in my neck or shoulders when going heavy. Since I stopped...no real problems. They SUCK. If you try to get a full range of motion you're just asking to hurt yourself. A dude in my gym was just doing 315lbs the other day. Luckily nothing popped but I'm not risking it anymore. IP: Logged |
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ulter Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 139) |
posted July 14, 2000 12:01 PM
I've done them on a Smith once a week for 17 years. I only go down to the middle of the back of my head. IP: Logged |
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2Thick Moderator (Total posts: 3275) |
posted July 14, 2000 12:10 PM
I do them once a week with heavy weight behind the neck. I also had a rotator cuff injury in the past (but from Olympic Style Snatch). I can actually do much more weight doing front shoulder presses. The secret to a safe behind the neck shoulder press is to only go down far enough for your arms to form right angles. That is about 1-2 inches lower tan the top of your head. That will keep you out of the danger zone while building amazing rear delts. ------------------ http://2thick.elitefitness.com IP: Logged |
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special_bill Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 82) |
posted July 14, 2000 12:21 PM
i agree with 2thick, i do them and have never had a problem...i think its a sad day when all the old exercises like behind neck pulldowns and presses aren't PC anymore....think about this, during front presses, you change your center of gravity, putting torque on your front delts and are forced to shift your hips forward (think about it)...you are now placing alot of weight along your spine, which is no longer normal (right angle) to the floor...if you have lower back problems, bang, you're now compressing a disc on its edge, instead of its entire surface area supporting the weight.....thus behind the neck presses aren't all evil QED IP: Logged |
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Curious Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 362) |
posted July 14, 2000 12:23 PM
I do rear shoulder presses every other shoulder workout. They are iffy as whether they are dangerous or not. Some people who have bad shoulders may not want to do them because if they do them wrong then they can hurt themselves. If you do them the right way (the way 2thick explained) then everything will be fine and you will get great size and strength development in your shoulders. It's a personal fav. of mine. ------------------ IP: Logged |
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mightydog Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 437) |
posted July 14, 2000 12:24 PM
Thats what I do, behind the neck presses just down to where i see the bar meet my ears. IP: Logged |
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special_bill Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 82) |
posted July 14, 2000 12:28 PM
actually i like to bounce the bar hard off my 4th amd 5th vertebre...kinda like i bounce 350lbs of my chest when i bench....  IP: Logged |
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Thick dog Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 936) |
posted July 14, 2000 12:37 PM
What's even better is bouncing standing barbell curls off your nuts. IP: Logged |
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Primo57 Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 620) |
posted July 14, 2000 12:45 PM
I still do them (in 2Thick fachion) and believe if done correctly they are a great component in your exercise arsenal. In addition I do dumbbells, standing front presses, and side raises on an incline bench IP: Logged |
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ulter Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 139) |
posted July 14, 2000 12:53 PM
I disagree Thick Dog I think that excercise is much more effective using a curl bar. However I find it's only good for one rep. IP: Logged |
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GymRatSD Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 280) |
posted July 14, 2000 12:54 PM
It is still an unnatural position for your shoulders to be in by pressing behind the neck. Some of the rotator cuff muscles and ligaments are at their maximum stress level at that angle. Putting weight on them only increases that stress. I do dumbbell and straight bar presses slightly in front of me with my back, including my lower back, directly against the seat so I know my back is straight. This makes the movement more difficult as it takes the stress off the lower back and you're forced to use your shoulders exclusively and not your chest. You have to use lower weight, but if you haven't tried it, give it a shot. I get a great shoulder workout from it. IP: Logged |
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mightydog Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 437) |
posted July 14, 2000 01:01 PM
Talk about shoulder developement, try swimming some hard laps in the pool, if you can stand the boredom. Last year I was hitting the indoor olypic size pool much more often. Thats when I had the best delts. IP: Logged |
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jersey boy Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 321) |
posted July 14, 2000 01:08 PM
Don't do them anymore BNP because of problems in the past. there are some of use who have the joint integrity of the gods, and I am not one of them. I do however go up to the low 300's on front presses with the smith without a hitch.
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Curious Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 362) |
posted July 14, 2000 02:48 PM
Thick dog you made milk fly out my nose. hahahahaha ------------------ IP: Logged |
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Vitaman Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 415) |
posted July 14, 2000 02:58 PM
I no longer do them. I too have hurt my rotators from various exercises. I am very careful about my rotators now. I chose to do front presses along with other shoulder raises and use very strict form on all shoulder workouts. ------------------ IP: Logged |
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johndoe Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 55) |
posted July 14, 2000 03:51 PM
I have to agree with 2Thick. I do them once a week and pyramid up my working sets. I think too many people try to treat this movement like their bench and it doesn't work. No one will ask you "how much do you press behind the neck?" I am repping a lot with strict form and I have NEVER had a problem. ------------------ IP: Logged |
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pillboy Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 141) |
posted July 14, 2000 03:57 PM
When you do this exercise it puts the shoulder joint in the position most likely to sublux. This is anterior/inferior, and once this happens it will continue to happen. This process will make your labrum weak(the cartilage around your socket) which will lead to many problems down the road. Do dumbell presses.. IP: Logged |
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ryry Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 589) |
posted July 14, 2000 05:02 PM
i love behind the neck presses. in my opinion the best way to pack on mass in your shoulders. my friends get hurt doing it, but they got puny shoulders. i have thick shoulders and i owe it to that exercise ------------------ IP: Logged |
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Dexter Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 686) |
posted July 14, 2000 05:03 PM
This is a very interesting post. Behind the shoulder presses have been the fundamental part of shoulders day for two years. Maybe it's time to change, because injuries suck. Dexter ------------------ IP: Logged |
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athlete21m Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 28) |
posted July 14, 2000 07:34 PM
Hey i feel you on how this lift can screw up the shoulders. I play college ball and we do it once a week like 6 sets going 300 plus, it aint fun and i personally think it sucks. Dont think the shoulders were built for that type of force coming down not up. Oh may have been confused here we do them standing up and push over the head more like a rear push press. [This message has been edited by athlete21m (edited July 14, 2000).] IP: Logged |
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evissam Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 52) |
posted July 14, 2000 07:40 PM
I do the same. Very close fronts on the Smith machine or dumbbells. Too much strain b/h the neck. IP: Logged |
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Bjaarki Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 41) |
posted July 17, 2000 05:12 PM
In contrast to most who've posted on this, I like BTN presses (though not too heavy, 135 lbs max, which is a LOT for me!). I especially like BTN military presses as a prefatigue lift at the beginning of a shoulder workout, supersetted with lateral raises done with a marked bend at the waist, going right into the lateral raises while still seated at the press rack, to involve the rear delts even more. Three supersets of these fuckers, using a 135 lb bar and 30 or 35 lb bells, and my shoulders are toasted! No injury yet, and I've got a bad shoulder! It's not BTN presses that fuck me up, however, though a lateral raise with a low post cable setup is guaranteed to send me home early with an icepack! Just goes to show we're all different. BTW, are these warnings against BTN lifts (both presses and pulldowns) based on empirical studies, or just lore? If the former, why doesn't someone post the original source of the studies, so we can all benefit? If the latter, I wouldn't worry. The lore used to say that even pro football players shouldn't lift! Most gym lore like that is a buncha'shit, if you ask me. Bjaarki ------------------ BECOME SOMEONE'S HERO! IP: Logged |
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Romeo Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 395) |
posted July 17, 2000 05:25 PM
i do them everyother week i like them ...i feel they build up my shoulder joint instead ..of hurting them...
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DREXX Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 361) |
posted July 17, 2000 05:40 PM
If you read the 7 minute rotator cuff solution it explains why Behind the neck press and Behind the neck Lat Pulldowns are not very nice to your rotators. I have stopped doing Behind the neck press, Behind the neck Pulldown and Bench Press for about 2 years and this asn't held me back at all. For delts it's either Dumbells or Front Press, Front Pulldowns work the lats much better and Low-Incline Bench is the best exercise for chest in my opinion...... IP: Logged |
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Hercules Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 95) |
posted July 17, 2000 06:07 PM
I stopped doing them a long time ago also. For me it feels very awkward to do and at times it would cause pain. I always tell people to stay away from them because it could lead to a rotator cuff injury. It is not worth the risking an injury for behind the neck presses. I would stick to the basics where the results are the same and there is less of a risk involved. IP: Logged |
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Fener Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 55) |
posted July 17, 2000 09:06 PM
this fucking exercise fucked up my rotator cuff. I couldn't bench press for a year.That's not the way to build muscles! The stupid thing is that i knew before it could damnage the shoulders and kept doing it. Now i wouldn't do one even if you paid me a lot. IP: Logged |
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NEWMAXX Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 216) |
posted July 17, 2000 09:15 PM
Broke the ball and rotatorback in HS. Hava hard enough time with dumb bells. I do use the smith for front side military - much easier on the shoulder joints. Lat raises all directions do the trick too, just takes more work. I will say though the 90 deg trick does work too, I have NO flexibility on my left side at all and this is the only thing that works for me ...so I usually just avoid military. [This message has been edited by NEWMAXX (edited July 17, 2000).] IP: Logged |
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Lqdmscle Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 165) |
posted July 17, 2000 09:28 PM
Kind of make you wanna laugh people still do them. IP: Logged |
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DocJ Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 153) |
posted July 17, 2000 09:43 PM
Pillboy hit it right on the head. When the humerus is placed in a externally rotated position with an overhead load on it, you are asking for trouble. Grab those db's and go to town! ------------------ IP: Logged |
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DREXX Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 361) |
posted July 17, 2000 09:48 PM
Just curious anyone here do any rotator work. I do 3 sets of External Rotation every week... IP: Logged |
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