Push press

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Ammo can push press

A push press is a weight training exercise for the anterior head of the deltoid (shoulder).

Contents

Execution

The push press is similar to the military press, in that the bar is held just above chest height and is pushed upwards before being lowered back down again; however, the movement is started by a 'push' from the legs. This begins the momentum of the movement and helps with the lifting of the weight overhead. The bar is then slowly lowered back to the chest and the legs are slightly bent again ready to begin the next repetition. [1] Alternatively, if the weight is so heavy that lowering it would be potentially unsafe, then it can be dropped from the overhead position onto surrounding padded flooring.

The push press can also be performed from behind the neck. These are sometimes not recommended though due to an increased risk of injury.[ citation needed ]

One-handed push presses can also be performed. These can help to increase core strength as it requires extra effort to stabilise the uncentred weight. In addition, as with other forms of unilateral work, they can help to reduce muscle imbalances in the body. For example, in a bilateral, two-handed push press, there may be an excessively large muscle imbalance meaning that the right side is performing 55% of the work and the left side 45%. By working each side individually, with the same weight, then it can be ensured that each side is performing the same amount of work, which in turn can help to reduce an excessive strength imbalance. [2]

Push presses are also commonly performed with dumbbells and kettlebells.

Purpose

The push press is used to help develop shoulder strength. It can be used to push past a sticking point or develop power for the Clean and Jerk (though 'pressing' is illegal in competition). The ability to drive from the legs and through the torso to the arms is important for sports (this is also found in the bench press).

Advantages

The push press can improve all over body coordination (though not to the extent of the weightlifting movements). It can also allow a trainee to use the eccentric portion of the exercise with a weight that may be too heavy for the concentric phase, thereby increasing strength.

Drawbacks

As the momentum is initiated by the legs, the bottom portion of the range of motion may be under-developed compared to the middle and end portions. The entire range of motion is more reliably trained in a shoulder press. One method of training is to initiate lifting with a shoulder press, and then gradually turning it into a push press when the lifter no longer has the strength to lift it with his shoulders alone and does not want to train with a lighter weight.[ citation needed ]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clean and jerk</span> Composite of two weightlifting movements

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dip (exercise)</span> Upper-body strength exercise

A dip is an upper-body strength exercise. Narrow, shoulder-width dips mainly trains the triceps, with major synergists being the anterior deltoid, the pectoralis muscles, and the rhomboid muscles of the back. Wide arm training places additional emphasis on the pectoral muscles, similar in respect to the way a wide grip bench press would focus more on the pectorals and less on the triceps.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unilateral training</span> Single limb physical exercise

Unilateral training involves the performance of physical exercises using one limb instead of two. Such exercises should be considered as being distinct from bilateral, two limbed, exercises. For example, unilateral squats use one leg, and bilateral squats use two legs. A unilateral bench press uses one arm and a bilateral bench press two arms. Depending on the exercise, this may also entail using different equipment i.e. a dumbbell instead of a barbell. Unilateral exercise is commonly involved in comprehensive training regimes and especially those of professional sports people and athletes. Usually it is used in addition to bilateral training as opposed to instead of it. Unilateral training can yield numerous benefits including improving a person's muscle balance between the left and right sides of their body, improving their sense of balance, and helping to avoid or rehabilitate injury.

References

  1. "Reebok CrossFit ONE Movement Demo "Push Press"". YouTube . 13 September 2012. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  2. dos Medios, Robert (18 September 2007). Power Training: Build Bigger Stronger Muscles Through Performance Based Conditioning. Men's Health. Rodale. pp. 10, 29. ISBN   9781605298689 . Retrieved 14 September 2022.