Does incline bench work shoulders? 

men doing incline bench press

If you’re looking to work your shoulders with an incline bench press, you may be wondering Does incline bench work shoulders? 

Yes, an incline bench press does help you work on your shoulders. It mainly targets the front deltoid muscles in your shoulders. This muscle is responsible for elevation and horizontal adduction of the arm, which means it helps you lift your arm up and out to the side. By working this muscle, you can help improve your overall shoulder strength and stability.

While there are many benefits to doing an incline bench press, it’s important to understand how this exercise specifically works on your shoulders so that you can get the most out of it.

In addition to targeting the front deltoids, an incline bench press also works the middle deltoids and the rotator cuff muscles. The middle deltoids are responsible for abduction or lifting your arm out to the side away from your body. The rotator cuff muscles help stabilize your shoulder joint and keep your arm in its socket.

Advertisement

What muscles incline bench work

When you do an incline bench press, you work a number of muscles in your chest, shoulders, and arms. Your primary muscles worked are your pecs (pectoralis major and minor). Your front delts (anterior deltoids) also get a good workout, as do your triceps.

Your lats (latissimus dorsi) also get activated during an incline bench press. This is because when you lower the barbell down to your chest, your lats help stabilize the weight. As you press the barbell up, your lats assist in the movement.

You can target different muscle groups by changing the angle of the bench. A more steep incline will put more emphasis on your pecs, while a less steep incline will work your front delts and triceps more.

The incline bench press is a great exercise for building strength and size in your upper body. Give it a try and see how it works for you!


Is incline bench press the best exercise for building shoulder muscles

Incline bench press is a great exercise for targeting the shoulder muscles. However, it is not as effective as other exercises for building muscle mass on the shoulders. If you are looking to build bigger shoulder muscles, you should focus on other exercises such as overhead presses and lateral raises.


How to do Incline bench press properly

Incline bench press is a great exercise for strengthening the muscles of the chest, shoulders, and triceps. When done properly, it can also help to improve your posture. Here is a step-by-step guide to doing incline bench press with proper form:

Before you start, warm up with some light cardio and stretches. This will help get your blood flowing and reduce the risk of injury.

Setting up the barbel for incline bench press

The first thing you will need is an incline bench. You can use either a flat bench with an adjustable incline or a dedicated incline bench. If using a flat bench, set the bench’s angle to around 30-45 degrees.

Once you have your bench set up, position yourself so that your eyes are level with the end of the bench pad and your back is pressed firmly against the surface. Grab the barbell with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.

Steps to do incline bench press properly

  1. Start by lying on the bench with your feet flat on the ground and your head and back pressed firmly against the bench.
  2. Take a deep breath in and then slowly lower the barbell down to your chest, keeping your elbows close to your sides.
  3. Once the barbell reaches your chest, pause for a moment and then explosively push it back up to the starting position.

4. Repeat this motion for the desired number of reps, then rest for 60 seconds before continuing on to your next set.


Best exercises for building shoulders

Barbell shoulder press

The shoulder press is a great exercise for targeting the shoulder muscles. It works the anterior deltoid, middle deltoid, and posterior deltoid. It also works the triceps and trapezius muscles. The shoulder press can be done with dumbbells, barbells, or kettlebells.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to perform this exercise:

  1. Start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent.
  2. Place a barbell in front of you at shoulder height. Grasp the barbell with an overhand grip, your hands slightly more than shoulder-width apart.
  3. Keeping your back straight and your core engaged, press the barbell overhead until your arms are fully extended.
  4. Slowly lower the barbell back to shoulder height and repeat for 8-12 repetitions.

Arnold press

The Arnold Press is a great way to work your shoulder muscles. It specifically targets the front deltoid but also works the middle deltoid and the triceps. 

If you want to add this exercise to your workout routine, Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do the Arnold Press:

  1. Start by sitting on a bench or chair with your back straight and your feet flat on the floor.
  2. Hold a dumbbell in each hand with your palms facing your thighs.
  3. From here, press the dumbbells up overhead until your arms are fully extended. Be sure to keep your core engaged and your back straight throughout the movement.
  4. Slowly lower the dumbbells back down to the starting position, maintaining control throughout the entire range of motion. 
  5. Repeat for 8-12 repetitions before switching sides.

Upright row

The upright row is a great exercise for working the muscles in your shoulders. It targets the rear deltoid, which is the muscle that gives your shoulders their rounded shape. The wide grip also works the trapezius, which is a large muscle in your upper back.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to doing the wide-grip row:

  1. Start by sitting on a bench with a dumbbell in each hand. Your feet should be flat on the floor and your knees bent at a 90-degree angle.
  2. Bend forward at the hips so that your torso is parallel to the floor. Let the dumbbells hang down at arm’s length. This is your starting position.
  3. From here, exhale and lift the dumbbells to the side of your torso, keeping your elbows close to your body.
  4. Once the dumbbells reach your sides, squeeze your shoulder blades together and hold for a count of one.
  5. Inhale and slowly lower the dumbbells back to the starting position.

Repeat this exercise for 8-12 reps before switching sides.

Side lateral raise

The side lateral raise is an exercise that works the shoulder muscles. This exercise can be done with dumbbells, resistance bands, or cables. The side lateral raise works the middle deltoid muscle, which is the muscle that gives your shoulder its round shape. The side lateral raise also works the trapezius muscle, which is a large muscle in your upper back.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to perform the side lateral raise:

  1. Start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. If using dumbbells, hold them at your sides with your palms facing your thighs. If using resistance bands or cables, attach the band or cable to a low pulley and hold the handles with your palms facing down.
  2. Keeping your shoulders down and your core engaged, raise your arms out to the sides until they are parallel with the ground.
  3. Pause for a moment and then slowly lower your arms back to the starting position.

Repeat this exercise for 10-12 reps.

Related: Best Shoulder Exercises for Mass with Dumbbells


Can you do incline bench press with other shoulder exercises

If you’re looking to add some variety to your shoulder routine, then you may be wondering if you can do incline press with other exercises. The answer is yes! In fact, incorporating different exercises into your routine can help to keep your muscles challenged and prevent boredom.

One of the benefits of the incline press is that it can be done with a variety of other exercises. For example, you could do a set of dumbbell presses followed by a set of incline presses. This would provide a great workout for both the chest and shoulders.

Another option would be to do a superset of incline presses and lateral raises. This would work the front and sides of the shoulders, giving you a complete workout.

Whatever combination of exercises you choose, make sure to focus on form and quality over quantity. This will help you get the most out of your workout and avoid injury.

Related: Can you work out chest and shoulders on the same day?


Why incline bench press is harder

One of the main reasons that the incline bench press is harder than the regular bench press is because of the angle at which you are pressing the weight. When you are pressing at a more horizontal angle, it puts more stress on your chest muscles and less on your triceps. This can make the exercise feel a lot harder, even if you are using the same amount of weight.

Another reason that the incline bench press is harder is that it is more difficult to stabilize the weight. When you are pressing at an incline, the weight will want to roll off of your shoulders and down your back. This can make it very difficult to keep good form and can also lead to injuries if you are not careful.

Overall, the incline bench press is a great exercise for building strong chest muscles. However, it is important to be aware of the challenges that come with this exercise before attempting it. If you are not prepared for the extra challenge, then it is better to ask the support from any other person. 


Conclusion:

Overall, the incline bench press is a great exercise for strengthening and stabilizing your shoulders. If you’re looking to add this exercise to your workout routine, be sure to start with a lighter weight so that you can get used to the movement

Advertisement
Hi, gurbi is a fashion blogger, designer, and fashion consultant. He is 25 yrs old man who love the world of fashion.