Overhead press
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Muscles worked
- High load
- Delts · Front
- Medium load
- Delts · Side
- Low load
- Core, Triceps, and Upper back
Primary muscles
Secondary muscles
How to do it
Set the bar on the front delts with the elbows slightly in front of the bar, feet about hip width, glutes and core squeezed tight. Press the bar in a straight line past the face and push the head through at lockout so the bar finishes over the mid-foot. Do not lean back to make the press easier — if the lower back arches, the weight is too heavy.
Form cues
- Squeeze the glutes, no lower-back arch
- Push the head through at lockout
Safety
Talk to a professional before this exercise if you have any of the following:
ShoulderElbowLower back
This is general exercise reference, not medical advice. Stop and consult a qualified professional if an exercise causes pain, and never work through joint pain.