Shoulder press behind the neck with barbell standing

IntermediateUpdated 27/02/2026

Position

Shoulder press behind the neck with barbell standing

Muscle map

Shoulder press behind the neck with barbell standing

Starting position

4

How to perform it

Press the load overhead without over-arching the lower back. Lower under control to the point where the shoulders and torso remain stable. Use a steady tempo: control the return phase in particular and avoid relying on momentum. Exhale through the hardest part and inhale as you recover the starting position.

Muscles worked

shoulderstricepsLumbares

Tips

Check that the movement stays stable in both directions and that the torso is not compensating. The goal is controlled loading of shoulders, triceps and lower back; match resistance and range to a intermediate level and never force a painful repetition.

Video