The aim of this research was to determine the impact of behind the head or in-front of the head overhead pressing technique on shoulder range-of-movement and spine posture. The in-front of head technique commenced the press in a lordotic position (males −8.5° and females −8.4°), and behind the head commenced in a kyphotic

position (23.9°, 17.1°). The kyphotic commence position for the behind Saracatinib the head was likely due to the participant moving the head forward to allow clearance for the bar to move from behind the head to above the head. When pressing to the cervical spine commences with a more normal lordosis again to allow the bar to travel vertically from the in-front position to overhead. During the movement both types of overhead pressing caused the cervical spine to move into a more flexed position. Research into cervical and thoracic postures have suggested that more neutral postures may reduce cervical spine loading and forward head posture may induce increased loads into the cervical spine.28 Due to the need to move the head either forwards or backwards, to allow vertical trajectory of the bar, the resultant find more changes in cervical curvature occurred at different times during the press. Interestingly

the range of cervical flexion was significantly different between genders, with males achieving 42.5° and females only 16.8° in behind the head (p = 0.05), and 18.7° and 24.4° respectively isothipendyl for in-front of the head (p < 0.01). It appeared that males adjust the cervical spine more in overhead pressing, especially behind the head technique, in comparison to females. This forward head adjustment seen in the behind the head technique may increase the loads into the cervical spine and should be considered when prescribing the behind the head exercise technique to people with existing cervical spine pathology. Cervical rotation also occurred during both forms of the overhead press. During in-front of the head technique normal cervical rotation occurred, and

when placed behind excessive rotation occurred that are not related to normal flexion extension of the cervical spine. Previous research showed that during normal flexion extension movements of the cervical spine, a small amount of up to 5.0° cervical rotation occurred.29 The authors suggest this was related to moving the head to allow a more vertical pressing action allowing the bar to clear the rear of the head. Normal thoracic kyphosis has been identified at 26° in previous research.30 and 31 The results from the current study show that in both males and females, both forms of overhead pressing cause extension and flattening of the thoracic spine. In previous research tracking thoracic spine movements, thoracic extension was found to occur when the arm was elevated through shoulder flexion.