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i recently started the THT volume cycle 1, and day one re aggravated an old war injury. this happened while doing military press with a barbell. i have had difficulty in the past doing lifts with barbells, particularly shoulder press and bench press, and was hoping i was past it. i wasn't! i find that i do MUCH better in terms of avoiding injury working with dumbbells. something about the limiited range of motion of barbells sets me up for an injury. my question is this: can i still achieve the size gains i am looking for using dumbbells instead of barbells, particularly with shoulder press and bench press? if there are any adjustments i should make, please elaborate. thanks a lot! new to forums(not just this site, but in general) so please forgive the double post.

Dumbells are just as effective as barbells until you get to a point where you could lift more weight then the largest dumbells available at your gym. For most people though that will never be a concern.

I agree with Vanguard1965 dumbbells are great choice but you will need a spotter later as the weight goes up.

If later when poundage goes up you could always do one-arm dumbbell press and use your free arm to get the weight at shoulder level and help to steady yourself. Using a one limb can be just as effective as using two and you will find you can push yourself harder when doing a single-arm.

Also consider isolation work like cable side lateral raise and cable front raise. Due to popular belief shoulders can be built with-out doing any overhead press. Any overhead press you will be using alot of tricep work a MRI studies have shown that using cables for the lateral head like cable lateral raise and cables for the front head cable front cable raise recruit more muscle fibre than the BARBELL/DUMBBELL press just a thought

B.T.W. I'm not debunking the BARBELL/DUMBBELL OVERHEAD PRESS just saying you could mix things up every now and then

Depending on gym, you might have what you want in cables. Mark has taught me to study the muscle you are working on. If you are PCPing it and repping to failure without hurting yourself (choke choke) then you are doing what you are supposed to irregardless of your source of resistance. I like the cable machines because I can reach over and tweak the weight instead of getting up, taking a weight off, carrying to the weight rack, getting another weight or 2, taking them back, hooking the retainers on the ends of the bar.

Also several sources have taught me this about shoulders and resistance training. Lock them back (pull back then down) before you start your routine. Also, always press below the nips with dumbell presses of any type.

I always lower the bar to around ear-height I thought Mark said it’s actually not “against the rules” to always use this range of motion if you feel more comfortable with it. I felt going lower always gave me problems with my shoulders going to ear level helped me alot and also helped me get past a sticking point.

@stickupkid
I like that. Gets me by believing that
I am assuming inclines not overheads, correct?

They shouldn't allow profile pictures except when you want to see someone's profile.
Too much In Your Face by Not Quite Cut experts. Oh god, what am I saying.

John I was referring to barbell shoulder press where Mark says the following advice.

If you ever reach a plateau on this movement, lower the bar to around ear-height for a smaller range of motion. This will allow you to use a heavier weight and BLAST past that sticking point. It’s actually not “against the rules” to always use this range of motion if you feel more comfortable with it.

That's what I need to do too. Did it today with my overhead presses. Thanks!