Been seeing videos about how it is bad for your shoulders which caused me to stop. Not sure if I should go back and doing them since I feel like my shoulder exercises are getting too repetitive.

Yeah I do them.

I don't feel any shoulder impingement.

It's one of the staple shoulder exercises from guys in the 50s to the end of the 70s when bodybuilders were aesthetic so take that for what you will.

wider grip and up to my chest. normal narrow grip and up to my chin was causing issues

thats the key i think

They’ve always felt terrible for me but I lift for PL/strongman now so haven’t bothered to consider them for years.
Personally I’d do high pulls before those but I think one thing lost on the fitness industry is that if it feels like a natural movement for your body then do it.

When I look back at my “lifting career” I wish I had stuck with some movements that weren’t necessarily PL movements but I liked them and they kept my joints feeling healthy. For me this was DB work, and certain cable movements.

What is your goal with these (I know you said shoulders and not to be repetitive). Hypertophy? Do you do heavy deadlifts now?

This and also do some off the floor with heavier weight, use momentum to get the bar up really works your traps at the top. I think Arnold recommended these.

Just watch your elbows - make sure they don't flare back too far

I'll look into this one although I usually only use the EZ Bar when I did it.

Sometimes. I like doing them with dumbells.

Has never been one of my favorite exercises though

Honestly haven't given them much thought. Where would you slot them into a PPL routine?

Don't go above nipples on chest with a wider grip, and you should be fine. I also really love behind the neck shoulder press, as it gives me an insane pump. Just need to be careful with form, and I don't recommend using full ROM on these exercises.

This thread every week.


Very wide grip, bar to my ribs, upper arm parallel with the ground, no higher. Elbows higher creates problems. Relax your traps.

I bolded the important part. Can not stress this enough when I speak with younger guys who ask about stuff in the gym - unless you arecompetingin a sport where a specific movement is required (powerlifting, oly lifting, etc.) there isabsolutely no reasonto do movements that don't work well for your body or to avoid certain "buzzword bad for you" lifts if theydowork for you.

With that said, doing upright rows regularly tends to cause some clicking in my shoulders - not necessarily pain, but obviously I have a mechanical problem with the movement. Therefore I do not do them regularly. However, they do give one of the best pumps so if I am having a day where I have chitty as fukk mind muscles connection and can't get a pump there, I'll throw them in as a one-off. Have not had any problems utilizing them this way.

OP if you feel them working the appropriate muscles and do not have any negative repercussions (be very honest with yourself about what you feel, see in the mirror with the movement, and hear (clicking like mine)) then continue with them.

This it not true. It only happens with you are doing them wrong.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqglIQYLVhc

Yes. I do them as a finishing exercise. Not heavy.

Yes I do them. Wider grip, up and stop at chest level.

Just use lighter weight, doing heavy shoulder presses are a good way to destroy your shoulders.

With a bar sometimes one shoulder feels a little off. With Dumbells they feel fine.

Prefer Hang Pulls or Hang Cleans.