Poliquin's Theory on Shoulders

Training Bodybuilding
21

EC,

I must have given the wrong impression. My shoulders do NOT bother me the way they used to. They are only slightly a pain-in-the-ass and are improving. Ever since I adopted the basic two planes / four movements (vert pr+pull + hznt pr+pull) and dropped the fruit loops sh!t, I have been improving. So maybe I would be ok without the direct overhead stuff. But I AM responding to direct overhead work, and any discomfort is going down as stability is improving. Basically, I was just being a smartass. Still it is interesting how much controversy remains among the experts regarding this very topic of overhead pressing.

BFG

[quote]Eric Cressey wrote:
I’d say that the best thing you could do is leave 'em alone for a bit and watch them grow!

If they aren’t responding to what you’re doing, you’ve got nothing to lose - especially if your taters are hurting.

BFG wrote:
EC,

what about people like myself that were put together funny in the first place, then slammed our shoulders into other guys for a few years, and then decided to slam our shoulders into snow covered mountains to finish them off? i have only obtained appreciable results from direct overhead pressing movements. i have not nailed the rep range / intensity yet, but none of those other movements seem to do sh!t for me.

22

[quote]bigpump23 wrote:
gottatrain wrote:
EC, what’s your opinion of upright rows with either d-bell or b-bell? My shoulder work lately has consisted of only two movements…military pressing and upright rows using the b-bell.

I’m not EC but he covers UR rows in Debunking exercise myths part 2. If your shoulder workout is just pressing and UR rows why not throw in a few forms of side/rear delt work? whats keeping you from them?[/quote]

bigpump…I used to do front and side laterals, as well as rear delts. I haven’t done upright rows for a while up until the last few weeks, so I thought I’d incorporate them back in. Was getting bored with front and side raises.

23

If you are not built properly for Barbell Benching (short arms and a barrel chest) all you have to do to grow your shoulders is Barbell Bench.

Of course, you may eventually develop shoulder problems, but they will at least be large!