Barbell Shoulder Press

The barbell shoulder press is one of the most basic and best exercises for increasing strength and muscle mass on the whole of the shoulder. The exercise works the front, medial and rear heads of the shoulders as well as your stabilising muscles such as rotator cuff muscles, trapezius and upper back. When initiating the exercise, shoulder press to the front to just underneath the chin, almost to the top of the chest. Remember to go slow on the way down for about 2 seconds before exploding on the way back up. Also ensure that you go through the full range of motion. Don'ts - Don't press behind the neck which stresses the shoulder and rotator cuff muscles and also put a lot of pressure on your lower neck. Also avoid repping too fast or going too heavy and only completing partial reps which will not help you build strength throughout the shoulder's entire range of motion. Nick Jones - World Bodybuilding Champion & Joe Grima - IFBB Bodybuilding Champion