Health Claims

If you're a healthy guy doing seated shoulder presses with heavy weights, using dumbbells probably works your front shoulder muscles a bit more than using a barbell.

When healthy guys do shoulder presses, standing with dumbbells makes their shoulder muscles work harder (based on electrical activity), even though they can lift heavier weights when sitting with a barbell.

Pushing the weight up works your shoulder and arm muscles harder than lowering it down, no matter which press variation you do.

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.

For male bodybuilders, the front military press works the upper chest more than the back version, based on muscle activity during both lifting and lowering the weight.

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.

If your core is strong and your shoulders move well, lifting weights overhead—whether in front or behind your head—is safe for your shoulders and back.

For guys, doing shoulder presses behind the head pushes the shoulders further than they naturally move, which might put extra stress on the joint.