Building a Foundation for the Overhead Press

Really nice job by the SmartGroup training guys on this article/video.  Too often I have seen athletes and non-athletes jumping into overhead pressing without the slightest clue how horrible their form is.  The overhead press is a complicated movement and as Jared and Steve describe in their video, more than one body part is involved.  

Remember to screen your clients before introducing the overhead press.  If the client is not physically ready to perform the lift then implement some corrective exercises for them.  Often with the overhead press we will see deficits in the thoracic spine, pelvis, and/or ribcage.  Check out these exercise of the week segments ( 1, 2, 3) for corrective exercises for the thoracic spine.  Check out this assessment of the week segment for further breaking down pelvic positions.  Don't re-enforce dysfunction by strength training clients with impaired movements.  

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