A Better Way to Press Without Beating Up Your Shoulders

Most people do their dumbbell chest presses on a bench.

The problem? A bench locks your shoulder blades in place.

When the scapula can’t move naturally, the shoulders are forced to handle stress in positions they weren’t designed for. Over time, that can lead to irritation or pain.

In this week’s video, Mark demonstrates a smarter option: the dumbbell chest press on a stability ball.

Because the ball allows your shoulder blades to move freely, your scapula can glide and rotate the way they’re supposed to. That makes the movement far more shoulder-friendly.

But that’s not the only benefit.

Holding the bridge position on the ball means your core and hips are working the entire time to stabilize your body. So instead of just training the chest, you’re building full-body stability while you press.

Another advantage: simplicity.

A stability ball costs far less than a bench, takes up almost no space, and can be used nearly anywhere.

The result is a movement that’s safe, inexpensive, and highly effective for building chest strength while keeping your shoulders healthy.

Watch this week’s video to see how to add it to your training.