Thread: Shoulder Press, Sitting or Standing?

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

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.

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.

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

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?

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.

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.

switch it up and see how it feels

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.