INCLINE, DECLINE

INCLINE DECLINE

Have you ever wondered why the benches in the gym are adjustable to tilt up and down?

There are advantages to pressing at an incline and a decline.  Let's look at both.

Incline presses target the upper muscles of the chest as well as the fronts of the shoulders.  The incline press has a long range of motion that makes it more difficult than flat or decline benching.  Most people cannot incline press as much as they flat or decline bench.  Also, people with existing or previous shoulder injuries can be more likely to feel pain doing incline presses.

The decline press activates more muscles in the lower portion of the chest than the flat or incline presses.  It has a shorter range of motion than the others and generally, people can lift more weight with decline presses.   Many feel that they are easier on the shoulders also.

Both incline and decline presses should be part of your training if your shoulders are up for it.  

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