Posted 06/03/2010
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about my perception of problems associated with sports performance and weight training. I shared my thoughts on traditional barbell squats, and gave some suggestions for alternative ways to strengthen your legs. Today, I would like to touch briefly on another common lift that is performed, and that is the bench press. A couple of thoughts I have with the bench press are: 1) If you’re going to perform bench presses, I would like to see you place your feet on the seat of the bench rather than on the floor. What this will do for you is reduce or eliminate extension through your back (refer to my previous blog entry for the problems with too much back extension). It will also decrease your stability on the bench and make the lift a more dynamic activity. Sure this will reduce the amount of weight you can safely manage, but I believe you will actually reap much bigger rewards in terms of sports performance; and 2) Don’t forget to work the muscles that oppose the pecs that you’re developing with the bench press. If you don’t incorporate activities that draw the shoulder blades back, you will develop forward head and shoulder posturing that can lead to neck and shoulder problems which will certainly not boost your sports performance. Until then, continue to check out blog entries from all of the therapists here at the Hruska Clinic.
Train smart and train hard.
~Dave
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Posted June 3, 2010 at 12:40pm by David Drummer.
Tagged With: Weightlifting • 0 Comments
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