Seated Dumbbell Shoulder Press - Too Heavy To Start After A Few Sets

[Stroonzo]

I have been getting frustrated with my seated shoulder presses. I'd like to be able to use 85 lb dumbbells, but find I am being forced down to 75 lb dumbbells.

The problem is lifting the dumbells into the starting position of a seated dumbbell shoulder press. Currently, I pick the dumbells up and sit on a high-back bench with the dumbbells resting upright on each leg. To lift them into the strating position, I pop them up, on at a time, with my leg.

I have to start my workout with these shoulder presses to ensure I can get these 75s in to position for a good 4 to 5 sets.

With help getting into the starting position, I can get a much better workout with 85s, but on my own, I am only able to get them in to position twice.

Any tips?

 

[hudhyphug]

I think this is enough .....
I do agree with you. Those are the most effective way

 

[Naptown]

Pop them up like a power clean while standing up, then sit down while they are in beginning position.

Works for me.

 

[outlawtas]

Just be careful. The shoulder is an area that bb'ers injure a lot and it completetly ruins your workouts. If you cant get up cleanly and safely, I would stick with a lighter weight and/or do another exercise.

how many reps you getting with 75?

 

[amvdub]

Just be careful. The shoulder is an area that bb'ers injure a lot and it completetly ruins your workouts. If you cant get up cleanly and safely, I would stick with a lighter weight and/or do another exercise.

how many reps you getting with 75?

I agree! I'm also comfortable with 70-75lbs but have troubles with 85s. If you can, get a spotter to help u up with them. That's how I do it.

 

[Onehungrychicken]

Just be careful. The shoulder is an area that bb'ers injure a lot and it completetly ruins your workouts. If you cant get up cleanly and safely, I would stick with a lighter weight and/or do another exercise.

how many reps you getting with 75?

Yup not worth jacking yourself up.

 

[Mudge]

In the past I'd kick them up really hard with my knees, but honestly I find a couple brands of machines are really great for overhead pressing. Sometimes an angled smith machine is ok too, although it tends to bother me more than a standard machine.

You can also try slowing your reps up a little in order to make it more difficult, instead of adding weight.

 

[outlawtas]

Can also consider military presses with the bar. Definitely the next best alternative and the weight starts above your head.

 

[Massive123]

Just be careful. The shoulder is an area that bb'ers injure a lot and it completetly ruins your workouts. If you cant get up cleanly and safely, I would stick with a lighter weight and/or do another exercise.

how many reps you getting with 75?

Real good advice right there....

Shoulder injuries will put you out for all upper body exercises it's not worth f'n them up! Take it from me... I can only sleep on my back now if I lay on either side I wake up with pain for days. I can only do shoulders every other week. It sucks!

 

[Stroonzo]

Just be careful. The shoulder is an area that bb'ers injure a lot and it completetly ruins your workouts. If you cant get up cleanly and safely, I would stick with a lighter weight and/or do another exercise.

how many reps you getting with 75?

With 75s (like I said, as long as I start my workout with SDSP) I do 4 to 5 sets : 7 to 8 reps.

With 85s and help, I do 4 sets of an avg of 6.

 

[Stroonzo]

Can also consider military presses with the bar. Definitely the next best alternative and the weight starts above your head.

I alternate every other shoulder workout. For example, of the six days I work out shoulders are days 3 and 6. Day 3 I do SDSP, and day 6 I do a standing military press on a squat rack (free bar, not smith machine).

I find it weird that I do less total weight on a Standing Military Press. With those, I am only doing 155 lbs. But dumbbells I am capable of 170.

I think this has to do with standing vs. sitting too. Not mentioned is the fact I had a back fusion on L4-L5-S1 in Oct 2006. So I am careful when stressing the back 9and will be for a long time). In that regard, I refuse to deadlift no more than 175 lbs, no matter how easy it is for me!

 

[intelligentmovement]

Hi Stroonzo,
i'm a Physical Therapist; my specialty is Lumbar spine and pelvis.

i would not recomend you do any deadlifts, not even light weight, or for that matter no weight deadlift.
a deadlift is loaded Lumbar flexion, and since you now have a fusion, when you perform such exercises you are placing yourself at increased risk for "transition zone syndrome".
Transition zone syndrome has come to imply the radiographic and clinically significant symptoms of premature degeneration of a mobile segment adjacent to a fusion... which means, the segment above the fused segments is at risk of develping further spine degeneration, especialy if loaded... such as in a dead lift.

the problem with this syndrome is, you feel nothnig until it is too late, and the disc is compromised or the nerves are.

if not careful, this may result in multiple spine fusion surgeries, going higher and higher into the spine.

so pleeeeaaase dont do dead lifts.

let me know if you have any questions,
best regards
IM

 

[mikert]

what i would do it do barbell with a heavy weight 4-6 reps then do 75s on your second exercise until you get 8-10 reps.

the next heavier dumbell i have acess to after 85s is 100s.i never tried the 100s yet but i does 205 for 6-7 on barbell then does 85s for 8 reps.

 

[Caution]

Pop them up like a power clean while standing up, then sit down while they are in beginning position.

Works for me.

Hmm ... never thought about doing it like that, def something to consider for me. I have trouble propping up anything over 90 - will try this next time.

I tend to switch between SDSP and seated military