I am choosing this weight lifting exercise this week.. The behind the head "Military Press" because a close friend of mine who I am training was doing this very exercise in his gym as it was part of a shoulder workout I made for him. He was told by another trainer NOT to do this exercise because it will hurt him as he had a bad experience with this particular exercise and felt it wasn't good to do. By telling this to my friend he placed fear and doubt in his head and he didn't continue on doing this exercise based on what he was told. Well, every exercise can hurt you, if you don't do it right. This exercise is mainly for your shoulders and it's true shoulders are very sensitive and you do need to be extremely careful when working them. Especially if using heavy weight when doing them. Using perfect form and doing them correctly you should NOT fear this exercise. If you ever fear a exercise it would be best not to do it, because of the fear you then put doubt in your mind, and more than likely you will do the exercise incorrectly and then there would be a chance of injury to yourself.
If you fearing any exercise I would get a trainer or someone you can trust that knows what they are doing and have them help you do the exercise correctly. Start out with a light weight, use perfect form and do them with a spotter. This way you will see exactly how to do the exercise the correct way and NOT fear it. This exercise is one that I found to be rare, and not used a lot in the gym or even shown in some of the books or as a basic shoulder exercise. Most do the front "Military Press" and never behind the neck. I was taught from the very beginning by my brother and workout partner that this was one of our basic exercises always used in our shoulder workouts. It is used as a basic exercise for bodybuilders, and power lifters because of it being a mass builder exercise. Most people shy away from this exercise because of fear, doubt or just not knowing how to do it correctly. This very exercise builds a part of the shoulders that all other shoulder exercises cannot develop.. Maybe that is why only bodybuilders, and power lifters seem to use it as a basic exercise because of that very reason.
I was taught by my brother to not just exercise what muscles we like or want to change because we will then be off balance. Our bodies will not be symmetrical and balanced and I was to find out later on that was so very true. Being symmetrical is a key factor when you are a bodybuilder and competing. The judges look for the most perfectly symmetrical physique on that stage. So I am sure glad I was taught to do the behind the neck "Military Press" as it developed that part of my shoulders that the other exercises would not of developed to it's full potential, and therefore leaving me unbalanced in that area. So whether your just working out to get in to shape or for competition get to know these basic exercises for each muscle group. Know exactly how to execute them correctly. Know exactly what part of the muscle they work and how important they are to building that muscle on your body. Never fear any exercise!
Most of all and rest assure that behind the neck "Military Press" should be at the top of your basic exercises on your list for your shoulder workouts !
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