Pectoral · Bar

Developed Declined — Bar

Muscles requiredPectoralis major, abdominal head · Pectoralis major, sternal head · Triceps lateral head

Description

Declined thrust which accentuates the recruitment of the sternal fascicles of the pectorals.

01 · Setup

Set up the movement

  • Lie down on a decline bench and brace your pelvis before starting.
  • Stable body, fixed pelvis, tight and lowered shoulder blades.
  • Chest open, wrists aligned, elbows at 45-60 degrees.
  • Fixed gaze and maintained core engagement.
02 · Execution

Perform the rep

  1. Descend in a controlled manner towards the bottom of the chest.
  2. Short stop without rebound.
  3. Push in a stable trajectory up to above the shoulders.
Technique cue

Control the descent and keep the elbows at a constant angle.

Common mistakes
  • bounce down
  • elbows too open
  • excessively extended wrists
  • loss of core engagement
Safety notes

Risks of poor execution

  • With a free bar, an uncontrolled load can fall on the chest, throat or face.
  • Rebounding or descending too quickly can cause a pectoral tear and shoulder injury.
  • Working close to failure without safety increases the risk of serious accidents.
  • A sudden descent increases shoulder-chest stress.
  • A bad trajectory increases the risk of shoulder pain.

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