ArticleFrontiers in physiology2022
Front vs Back and Barbell vs Machine Overhead Press: An Electromyographic Analysis and Implications For Resistance Training.
Article in Frontiers in physiology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 12 citations in OpenAlex.
- Minimalist Training: Is Lower Dosage or Intensity Resistance Training Effective to Improve Physical Fitness? A Narrative Review.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2024Pooled it
- High-Density Surface Electromyography Excitation in Front vs. Back Overhead Press Prime Movers.Journal of human kinetics · 2026Article
- Effects of Mind-Muscle Connection on Muscle Activity During Machine-Based Shoulder Press in Untrained Individuals.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- High-Density Surface Electromyography Excitation of Prime Movers Across Scapular Positions in the Seated Row.Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology · 2025Article
- Decoding the Contribution of Shoulder and Elbow Mechanics to Barbell Kinematics and the Sticking Region in Bench and Overhead Press Exercises: A Link-Chain Model with Single- and Two-Joint Muscles.Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology · 2025Article
- High-Density Electromyography Excitation in Front vs. Back Lat Pull-Down Prime Movers.Journal of human kinetics · 2024Article
- Biceps Brachii and Brachioradialis Excitation in Biceps Curl Exercise: Different Handgrips, Different Synergy.Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Bilateral Biceps Curl Shows Distinct Biceps Brachii and Anterior Deltoid Excitation Comparing Straight vs. EZ Barbell Coupled with Arms Flexion/No-Flexion.Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Overhead press is commonly performed to reinforce the muscles surrounding the shoulders. However, many overhead press variations can be executed, thus varying the stimuli to each muscle. Therefore, the current study compared the muscles excitation during overhead press performed with the barbell passing in front or behind the head or using a shoulder press machine. Eight competitive bodybuilders performed in random order front (front-BMP) or back barbell military press (back-BMP), and front (front-MSP) with neutral handgrip or back machine shoulder press (back-MSP). Normalized surface electromyographic root mean square (RMS) of anterior, medial and posterior deltoid, upper trapezius, pectoralis major and triceps brachii was recorded during both the ascending and descending phases. During the ascending phase, anterior deltoid showed greater RMS in back-BMP than back-MSP [ES: 1.42, (95% confidence interval 0.32/2.51)]. Medial deltoid showed greater RMS in back-BMP than front-BMP [ES: 3.68 (2.07/5.29)], and back-MSP [ES: 7.51 (4.73/10.29)]. Posterior deltoid showed greater RMS in back-BMP than front-BMP [ES: 9.00 (5.73/12.27)]. Pectoralis major showed greater RMS in front-BMP than back-BMP [ES: 3.11 (1.65-4.56)] and in front-MSP than back-MSP [ES: 20.52 (13.34/27.70)]. During the descending phase, anterior deltoid was more excited in back-BMP compared to front-BMP [ES: 7.66 (4.83/10.49). Medial deltoid showed greater RMS in back-BMP than front-BMP [ES: 4.56 (2.70/6.42)]. Posterior deltoid showed greater RMS in back-BMP than front-BMP [ES: 8.65 (5.50/11.80)]. Pectoralis major showed greater RMS in front-BMP than back-BMP [ES: 4.20 (2.44/5.95)]. No between-exercise difference was observed for upper trapezius. Performing back overhead press enhances the excitation of medial and posterior and partly anterior deltoid, while front overhead favors pectoralis major. Overhead press performed using barbell excites muscles more than using machine to stabilize the trajectory of the external load. Different variations of overhead press appear to provide different stimuli to the shoulder muscles and may be used accordingly during the training routine.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.