Military Press Behind Neck

Exercise Info

LevelIntermediate
Muscle GroupShoulders
Secondary MuscleTriceps
Exercise TypeStrength
Equipment RequiredBarbell
Force TypePush
rating3

Tips

  1. A word of warning - this exercise places unnecessary stress on the shoulder joints. We recommend you do a regular military press. To avoid injury, do not lower the bar much further than the top of you head. This will keep your upper arms at a 90 degree angle to the floor and place less stress on your shoulder joints.
  2. Keep your back straight throughout the movement. Dont let it arc too much when pressing the weight.
  3. Use a lighter weight that you would on a regular military press.

Instructions

  1. Setup for the military press behind the neck by loading the weight you want to use on a barbell.
  2. Stand facing the barbell with your feet at around shoulder width apart.
  3. Grasp the barbell using a overhand grip (palms facing the floor) with your hands at around shoulder width apart.
  4. Keeping your back straight, pick up the bar off the floor and raise it to your shoulders, then above your head. Bend your knees slightly. This is the starting position for the exercise.
  5. Keeping your back straight and upright (don't lean back), slowly lower the bar down behind your neck as far as comfortably possible.
  6. Pause, and then slowly raise the barbell back up without locking the elbows out at the top of the movement.
  7. Repeat for desired reps.