The\u00a0bench press\u00a0has long been considered the ultimate builder of upper-body strength. But there\u2019s a case to be made for its underappreciated cousin, the incline dumbbell press.<\/p>\n
In trainer speak, both moves are known as \u201chorizontal pushing\u201d exercises. That means you extend your arms in front of you under resistance, working primarily the chest muscles, and secondarily the shoulders and triceps.<\/p>\n
But the incline press may be an equally worthwhile chest-builder as the much-vaunted bench press. For one thing, you\u2019re zeroing in on a specific, and highly visible, part of the chest. \u201cUsually when you hear people talking about working different parts of a muscle \u2014 like the\u00a0lower or upper abs \u2014 they\u2019re talking nonsense,\u201d says Trevor Thieme, C.S.C.S.<\/p>\n
But the pectoral muscle is different.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach pec has two heads,\u201d he says. \u201cOne attaches to your clavicle, and the other attaches to your sternum.\u201d The incline dumbbell bench press targets the smaller, often underemphasized clavicular head, which isn\u2019t as powerful as the sternocostal head, but is nevertheless key to the muscle\u2019s overall power. Sculpting it with targeted exercises like the incline press can also give your upper body a more chisled, athletic look.<\/p>\n
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