It is very common for men to place a lot of attention on their chest routine. Developed pectorals can be esthetically appealing, and may be considered a symbol of strength and power. Typically bench press is the most popular exercise to develop the chest muscles, however, it is not the most effective. Excessive bench press can irritate the rotator cuff muscles. Bench press is also not a great strength indicator as it is very easy to cheat by lifting up your hips or by over extending your back. My favorite exercise for chest development is 45-degree incline dumbbell press. Dumbbells are great because they allow a greater range of motion, and the inclined angle helps to isolate the upper areas of the chest which are typically the most underdeveloped. However, this exercise alone will not develop a chiseled chest. It is important to have staples in your chest routine, but you must shock your system by changing your routine around regularly. Exercises such as dumbbell flies, hammer strength machines, pec dec and cable cross-overs can be great additions to your chest routine.

Shaun Karp is a certified personal trainer in Vancouver. For further information call his office at 604-420-7800.