For competitive male bodybuilders, doing the back barbell military press fires up the rear shoulder muscles way more than the front version — in both the lifting and lowering parts of the move.

If you're a male bodybuilder, doing the back barbell shoulder press lights up your side shoulder muscles more than the front version — both when lifting and lowering the bar, and the difference is really big.

When bodybuilders do overhead shoulder presses with the bar behind their head, their rear shoulder muscles work a lot harder than when they do the same move in front — at least according to this claim.

Lifting weights with a barbell over your head works the side and back parts of your shoulders more than using a shoulder press machine, because your muscles have to work harder to stay balanced.

When bodybuilders lower the bar behind their head during a military press, their front and rear shoulder muscles work harder than when they do the same move in front of their head.

For competitive male bodybuilders, lowering the bar behind the head during shoulder presses seems to work the side of the shoulder muscle harder than pressing in front, based on muscle activity readings.