Shoulder Press, Sitting or Standing?

Vlar · 12-24-2003, 04:19 PM

Pretty trivial question, but just curious...

I normally do them sitting on the end of the bench (using DB) but it occured to me that while standing maybe they would be more benificial like in using more stabilizer muscles etc...Do you think there is any real differences or would it just come down to perference?

**Mudge** · 12-24-2003, 04:46 PM

I always do them seated on a smith now, front presses only.

seabee · 12-24-2003, 04:50 PM

This is just me...I press about double the amount I can curl (dumbells) and I can barely kick those things up with my knees while sitting. How are you going to get the dumbells to your shoulders, standing? Sounds hard to me. Hopefully others will explain how they get dumbells up too. I'm strong enough to increase the weight, but I can't kick up anymore than I am now. Too bad.

**Prince** · 12-24-2003, 05:00 PM

you're much better off doing them standing, when seated you are putting your back in a compromised position to hold weight.

just an example: the amount of pressure that is put on your disks when seated is two times your bodyweight greater than when you're standing upright. while standing all of the erector spinae are flexed giving your back full support to hold weight.

KataMaStEr · 12-24-2003, 05:06 PM

With DB I do them seated, with a BB I do them standing.

Yanick · 12-24-2003, 05:08 PM

What Prince said.

Plus you could also factor in the carryover to the real world factor. When you have to pick something up over your head your not really going to have a back support or bench around to help you.

As far as getting db/bb's up to your shoulders....ever heard of cleans?

**Mudge** · 12-24-2003, 05:12 PM

I have tried standing for a couple months in a row, I much prefer a seat with a backing. I am talking barbell work, haven't used dumbells in some time.

Vlar · 12-24-2003, 05:48 PM

Right on. Going to switch to standing preferred. I'm currently lifting 45# on each hand, so the setup doesn't seem so bad as far as throwing weight around. Might be an issue in the future, but by then should have access to better equipment/exercises.

oaktownboy · 12-24-2003, 06:01 PM

switch it up and see how it feels

**P-funk** · 12-24-2003, 06:18 PM

Standing definetly places less compression on the spine but it may be harder for some to handle thier normal weights because you really need strong abs/core to hold alot of weight above your head (hidden message from p-funk.....yes, I am talking to all of you that sit there and say abs are made in the kitchen and not in the weight room. Diet exposes them but does not train them to be stronger!!!!). If you find yourself leaning back to much when standing and your lower back is hurting you can extend your base of support in the sagital plane. Usually people stand with their feet together or shoulder width apart but once the weight gets heavier you be hard press to balance the weight over your head so I like to have people stand in a staggerd (atheletic stance) in order to prevent form hyperextending their lower back and to increase balance and support.

NBaldwin · 12-24-2003, 07:16 PM

I just wanted to say nice new avatar Prince

oh and I do mine standing

nathan

12-24-2003, 04:19 PM	#1
Vlar the discipline of steel Elite Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 125 Photos: 27	Shoulder Press, Sitting or Standing? BODYBUILDING SUPPLEMENTS High Quality Supplements For Bodybuilders and Athletes. www.ironmaglabs.com Pretty trivial question, but just curious... I normally do them sitting on the end of the bench (using DB) but it occured to me that while standing maybe they would be more benificial like in using more stabilizer muscles etc...Do you think there is any real differences or would it just come down to perference?

12-24-2003, 04:46 PM	#2
Mudge Pizza the Hut Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 22,966 Photos: 1	I always do them seated on a smith now, front presses only.
	Kinesiology Vote @ Top 25 Deads Comp Bench Motivation Bench form MaxCalc Charles Poliquin When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. Lao-Tzu I don't know any sources so don't ask - thanks

12-24-2003, 04:50 PM	#3
seabee Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 165	This is just me...I press about double the amount I can curl (dumbells) and I can barely kick those things up with my knees while sitting. How are you going to get the dumbells to your shoulders, standing? Sounds hard to me. Hopefully others will explain how they get dumbells up too. I'm strong enough to increase the weight, but I can't kick up anymore than I am now. Too bad.
seabee Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 165

12-24-2003, 05:00 PM	#4
Prince the one & only Administrator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Colorado Posts: 33,295 Blog Entries: 25 Photos: 313	you're much better off doing them standing, when seated you are putting your back in a compromised position to hold weight. just an example: the amount of pressure that is put on your disks when seated is two times your bodyweight greater than when you're standing upright. while standing all of the erector spinae are flexed giving your back full support to hold weight.
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12-24-2003, 05:08 PM	#6
Yanick Amor Fati Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 3,798	What Prince said. Plus you could also factor in the carryover to the real world factor. When you have to pick something up over your head your not really going to have a back support or bench around to help you. As far as getting db/bb's up to your shoulders....ever heard of cleans?
Yanick Amor Fati Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 3,798	"...we have to remember that training is a complicated dance of stimuli and response. Our goal is to understand how to manipulate the stimuli in order to evoke the responses we desire." -Nathan J. Polenchek

12-24-2003, 05:06 PM	#5
KataMaStEr -==♠==- Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Sunshine State Posts: 1,959 Photos: 7	With DB I do them seated, with a BB I do them standing.

12-24-2003, 05:12 PM	#7
Mudge Pizza the Hut Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 22,966 Photos: 1	I have tried standing for a couple months in a row, I much prefer a seat with a backing. I am talking barbell work, haven't used dumbells in some time.

12-24-2003, 05:48 PM	#8
Vlar the discipline of steel Elite Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 125 Photos: 27	Right on. Going to switch to standing preferred. I'm currently lifting 45# on each hand, so the setup doesn't seem so bad as far as throwing weight around. Might be an issue in the future, but by then should have access to better equipment/exercises.
	"For no one - no one in this world can you trust. Not men, not women, not beasts. This you can trust. [Points to barbell]" - Conan's Father

12-24-2003, 06:01 PM	#9
oaktownboy DEFINITION OF R@B Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: smog and fog Posts: 4,375	switch it up and see how it feels
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12-24-2003, 06:18 PM	#10
P-funk Patrick Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: AZ Posts: 30,280	Standing definetly places less compression on the spine but it may be harder for some to handle thier normal weights because you really need strong abs/core to hold alot of weight above your head (hidden message from p-funk.....yes, I am talking to all of you that sit there and say abs are made in the kitchen and not in the weight room. Diet exposes them but does not train them to be stronger!!!!). If you find yourself leaning back to much when standing and your lower back is hurting you can extend your base of support in the sagital plane. Usually people stand with their feet together or shoulder width apart but once the weight gets heavier you be hard press to balance the weight over your head so I like to have people stand in a staggerd (atheletic stance) in order to prevent form hyperextending their lower back and to increase balance and support.
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12-24-2003, 07:16 PM	#11
NBaldwin whatever Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: eating, lifting, or riding Posts: 60 Photos: 3	I just wanted to say nice new avatar Prince oh and I do mine standing nathan Last edited by NBaldwin : 12-24-2003 at 08:12 PM.
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