Overhead press

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Seated military shoulder press Seated-military-shoulder-press-1.png
Seated military shoulder press

The overhead press, also known as the shoulder press, strict press or military press, is an upper-body weight training exercise in which the trainee presses a weight overhead while seated or standing. It is mainly used to develop the anterior deltoid muscles of the shoulder. [1] The standing version was once a component of the sport of Olympic weightlifting as part of the clean and press movement, but was removed in 1972 due to difficulties in judging proper technique.

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The lift is set up by taking either a barbell, a pair of dumbbells or kettlebells, and holding them at shoulder level. The weight is then pressed overhead. [2] While the exercise can be performed standing or seated, standing recruits more muscles as more balancing is required in order to support the lift. [3] Other variations of the exercise include the push press, a similar movement that involves an additional dipping motion in the legs to increase momentum. [1] An overhead press may also be performed unilaterally, with the lift being performed one handed; or in an alternating fashion with both hands holding a dumbbell or kettlebell, and then pressing with one arm and then the other. [4]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Boly, Jake (16 March 2021). "The Overhead Press May Just Be the Best Pressing Movement Around". BarBend. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  2. "How To Overhead Press: A Beginner's Guide". Bodybuilding.com. 2015-08-12. Retrieved 2018-09-11.
  3. "The Overhead Press: The Difference Between Seated, Standing, Dumbbell and Barbell". Breaking Muscle. 17 March 2022.
  4. Boyle, Michael (2016). New Functional Training for Sports. Champaign: Human Kinetics. p. 168. ISBN   978-1-4925-3061-9.

Further reading