HELP: Not feeling chest press in my chest but in my shoulder

inge88

Hopefully someone out here can help me. I have been doing Les Mills Body Pump classes for a copule of months now. There is one exercise that I'm always struggling with and that is the chest press. We do chest press laying on your back with a barbell. Hands all the way to the sides of the barbell. For some reason I cannot get this to work my chest muscles, I really only feel this in the back of my shoulders or my arms. What am I doing wrong??!

I spoke to my instructor about it and she suggested that I might take the barbell down too low. But I am really watching it now and it hasn't changed. Could anyone think of something else that might cause me feeling chest press in my shoulders?!

inge88

Bumping my own thread (how desperate!..) in the hope someone will reply this time

koosdel

I'm sorry, but you have a lousy instructor. If your grip is too wide, this lift will stress your shoulders.

inge88

Really? She always tells us to have our pinkies touch the side of the barbell! I will give it a shot next Tuesday to do less wide! Just somewhere halfway the middle and the end?

koosdel

Yikes! Definitely consider a different instructor. Please read this; http://www.worldfitness.com/fitness/260/proper_chest_press_form.php

EuroDriver12

Grip is different for everyone depending on height... Try not going all the way down toching ur shirt... Go about as far down so ur elbows are just by your lats or low beside you... If u touch your shirt on each rep it uses alot of ur shoulder atthe beginning and you wont get as good of chest workout...

Huffdogg

With your arms directly out at your sides, your forearms should be perpendicular to the floor. Or, to word it differently, your hands should grip the bar at about your "wingspan" from elbow to elbow. The other commentors are dead right; your instructor is wrong. This lift WILL tweak your shoulder if done the way you are doing it.

BeautyFromPain

this has been happening to me too... thankyou all!

d1469d

I have to agree with the other comments.

If you are feeling it every where else more than what the exercise was intended for, the chances that you are doing it wrong are pretty good. Pull your instructor off to the side and let them know what is happening. Fitness athletic centers are not cheap. Make sure you are getting your hard earned monies worth.

Nerdy_Rose

I agree. One of my instructors said the same thing, but for comfort I never put my hands that wide on the bar. It varies by person.

StartingAnewDay

When I read it I knew IMMEDIATELY.. sorry about what your instructor says but that grip is too wide for you..

PoochPottery

I do body pump too and also struggle with the chest hurting my shoulder. I modify by using hand weights and not the bar. Hopefully you have hand weights available to you. If not bring them in. A good instructor will let you modify. Hope this helps

LeanerBeef

Very good advice by all.....try moving your hands closer together on the bar. I lifted incorrectly for many years and have the shoulder pain to prove it. lol. I was amazed at how much better and more natural it feels doing chest presses after moving my hands in a couple inches. Good luck!

inge88

Thanks all so much guys! I sounds like you are all right! My shoulders are usually killing me.
Can't wait to go to pump Tuesday and try this out!!