Bench pressing- Bad for you? and poll

[Rich67]

I was reading the latest issue of Grappling mag and came across an article by Matt Furey, in which he points out that the bench press is an unnatural movement. He went on to explain how many people have received debilitating injury to rotator cuffs and other shoulder ailments as a result of long years of heavy benching. I saw the logic in this statement, and I think he may be onto something. I noticed that I have also been a victim of shoulder problems, mostly attributed (I believe) to my days of heavy bench pressing. I have not gone heavy in quite a while, but still maintain bench press in my regimen. I have noticed a decrease in pain, but I still have some "catching" in my rotator, which has a lot to do with those earlier days. What's the opinon here on this? Do you guys who bench heavy notice you also have shoulder issues? I mean, I sure wish someone told me that I'd be feeling like this earlier, I might have eased up on the heavy bench presses. I am 37, and I ache like I'm 60!

[WolverineGuy]

Proper form will eliminate most injuries. There's also a huge difference between lifting heavy and lifting TOO heavy. Tha'ts the mistake most lifters make that cause shoulder injuries.

[DokterVet]

Bench pressing has never bothered my shoulders, although I found that dodgeball (yes, dodgeball) was hurting my shoulder, so I started to do rotator cuff excersizes and worked on my thowing form and the problem is gone.

[Vito]

while using dumbells is better, if you dont drop the bar beyond the point at which your arms are parallel with the ground (the triceps portion) its usually okay.

[SoonerJohn]

I think it does cause injuries by lifting too much. I've got rotator cuff problems every so often now from lifiting what I thought was too much.

 

Of course I read the article in Mens Health this month about power lifters and now realize how much of a wimp I am compared to those guys.

[WhiteBelt]

Bench like a powerlifter and do prehab exercises and you'll be fine in most cases. Train smart, not hard.