http://www.elitefts.com/documents/overhead_athlete.htm
Not sure if this has been discussed here before but
I will love to hear the experiences of coaches on this subject. Thanks.
Bump…
I think you can’t cookie cutter everything. Being a trainer for over 10 years now you realize that nothing is the be all end all solution. Everybody must train like this or nobody does exercise A when I’m training them.
I think it boils down to risk assessment and the benefits of the exercises.
Do the benefits of overhead pressing outweigh the risks? I think for most “sedentary” people yeah. For a lot of athletes though you can do a ton of overhead stuff and not have a shoulder problem at all.
I personally do quite a few overhead exercises and I have shoulder problems. Why do I do it? I love seated military press. I don’t go down more than 2 inches from the top of my skull though. No more touching the traps like I did in my teens.
I think the lockout overhead squat is a great exercise but… you have to make sure these guys have the flexibility to get into that position without twisting their spines in half because their lats, pecs and anterior delts are so tight that’s the only way you can keep it in balance over your head.
For the most part, my younger athletes use dumbells. All these exercises are auxillary anyway so until they start pushing some real poundage it’s not a big deal.
Thanks Plook, you are right.Individualisation is the key. Can behind the neck press cause some shoulder problems?
Your shoulders are in a real vulnerable position especially when you get below 90 degrees elbow flexion.
Again, going into that position, are your benefits outweighing your risk? If your answer is no then skip em.
Great way to breakdown the AC joint- torsional forces are high with these exercises.
I’m not a coach, but why do overhead lifts get such a bad rap? Ted Arcidi was a huge proponent of the behind the neck press for increasing his bench press. Of course everyone is different, but in my opinion, if it’s good enough for ted arcidi, then it’s good enough for someone such as myself.
Ted uses a certain oil based androgen that reduces loading on joints, most powerlifters do, thats why they train like maniacs.
I agree that OH Pressing should be used with the Risk/Reward scenario in mind. Obviously athletes that already are using OH activity in their sports should not include this in their training (baseball, tennis, volleyball, QB’s in football, etc) but IMO that if you do not have any prior history with shoulder issues than you should be OK with pressing overhead. It definitley is not a must, but another tool to choose from the toolbox. We are trying to develop complete athletes yes?
Look at Oly lifters, I think they are doing just fine with pressing 350+ over their heads like its nothing. (I know I know, that is THEIR sport, but the general idea is there).
Then again, be smart about the load and frequency. I personally have used a combo of jerks/push press/military ever since I started training and have had no problems. Then again my training age is fairly young (6 years). How have others faired with doing this?
OL lifters press from Infront/ not behind, most of the power is generated from the legs. The AC joint is not smashed like BN press.
I didn’t know you were referring to behind the neck press-- in that case, I agree. I don’t ever do it, IMO poses a greater risk on the eccentric phase to make sure you lower in control.
Lol, did you even read the original posted article?
I love the feel of behind the head presses. I don’t go down that far anymore but my shoulders get a great pump from them. I don’t get that feeling from any other exercise. Are they good for my shoulders? Probably not but some submaximal weights not going to failure seem to be ok and have been for awhile. Do I have any of my clients do them? No.
Here’s an old school workout I found when I was looking to see what Ted Arcidi looked like. He looks like his tendons could handle that of a large farm animal.