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mechanistic
Analysis v1
Contested

When you lift weights overhead to the sides, your shoulder side muscles (medial delts) work harder because of how your arms move and your shoulders are built.

35
Pro
49
Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

35

Community contributions welcome

35

High-Density Surface Electromyography Excitation in Front vs. Back Overhead Press Prime Movers

Cross-Sectional Study
Human

The study shows that pressing a barbell in front of your body activates the middle part of your shoulder muscle more toward the center, which supports the idea that this movement works that area better.

Contradicting (2)

49

Community contributions welcome

49

Front vs Back and Barbell vs Machine Overhead Press: An Electromyographic Analysis and Implications For Resistance Training

Randomized Controlled Trial
Human
2022

The study found that pressing the weight behind the head activates the side shoulder muscle more than pressing in front, which goes against the idea that front pressing is better for that muscle.

28

Does changing the plane of abduction influence shoulder muscle recruitment patterns in healthy individuals?

Cross-Sectional Study
Human
2016 Feb

The study looked at which shoulder muscles are used when lifting arms in different directions. It found the middle shoulder muscle is only slightly more active in the frontal plane, not much more than in other planes.

Gold Standard Evidence Needed

According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Similar Assertions

Rotating your shoulders outward when doing overhead presses makes the front shoulder muscle work harder than the side one.

0
0
89%

When you lift your arm out to the side, the middle part of your shoulder muscle works best at the start, but the front part takes over more when your arm goes way up past shoulder height.

0
0
87%

The front part of your shoulder muscle is better at lifting your arm forward, while the side part works harder when you lift your arm backward — they’re specialized for different directions.

26
0
82%

The more you lean back when doing pressing exercises, the more the front of your shoulder muscles do the work instead of your chest — and when you're standing straight up, your front shoulders are working the hardest.

49
0
79%

Lateral raises work your side shoulder muscles just as well — or even better — than overhead pressing, so they're a great way to build those muscles.

41
0
77%

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