Question re: hypertrophy and BP and press

[BillBrownley]

One of the interesting things to me is seeing how different everyone is--particularly among the elderly--in strengths and weaknesses. Without using names--some guys upper body lifts are awe inspiring, some lower body. Some with real strengths in some areas have real weaknesses in others.

I am reasonably strong for an old new guy on the lower body lifts. Squats and dead lifts progression has been reasonably consistent and solid, despite the fact that my injuries (significant knee surgeries) are all to my lower extremities.

Presses and BPs on the other hand have been frustrating to say the last--and this would be an area I would have considered a strength previous to actually doing the lifting on the program.

I am 6'1" 270. My DL and squat have progressed approximately 60 pounds since I began in November--still making progress. My BP and Press have gone--nowhere.

I have tried re-setting, micro-loading...

I have made a little (very little) progress in pressing. Not much pain--but very hard to progress. I am quite strong on the last warm-up--then fail more quickly than I would expect on the work sets.

BP--no issues working up to work weight--sometimes no pain at all, then some days when I get to work weight sharp shoulder pain in left front deltoid. But not consistently painful. Sometimes I cannot complete the first work set, sometimes I can.

Would trying a program more aimed at hypertrophy for the upper body (more reps, more sets, lighter weights) be a possible solution, then get back into more strength and power?

Pain is not present at lower weights.

Numbers for reference--these are working weights with 5 rep sets ala SS.
Squat-312
DL-402
BP-185 (no movement from first time)
Press-105 (moved from 95, but a long bitter struggle for 10 pounds.

Thanks for any help.

[MazdaMatt]

I was very stuck for a very long time due to form issues... i went up quickly in a short period of time when I sorted that out, but I'm slowed down again. Perhaps a video or just reviewing the press and bench chapters carefully would help you.

For reference, your deads squats and bench are all higher than mine, but I press more than you and I'm not good at pressing.

Do you do chins/pulls?

[bob g]

Bill, one thing to consider is the amount of time you’ve been back at it. While you may be doing fine with squat and DL, you haven’t had much time under the bar yet to solidify your structure for the pressing lifts. As you keep moving along your ability to lock your trunk (I hate to say “core”) and hips while you press will catch up to your lower body work. This is where squats and deads help your presses. I’ve always been a decent presser but the bigger improvements didn’t happen until I’d been back at it for six months or so. I wouldn’t worry about hypertrophy and changing your routine. Keep at it, micro load and eat well. You’ll get there.

[Mark E. Hurling]

Something to consider here might be the hand spacing on your bench press. I had shoulder problems and quite benching for a long time. I now have come to the conclusion that it was a wide handspacing issue in order to handle more weight. I use a shoulder width grip now and have had no shoulder problems at all. Another thing too, your lower body lifts look good, but I stagnated for years in presses because I didn't squat or deadlift. About a year ago, before I found this place I started doing trap bar deadlifts and my pressing started moving again. As counterintuitive as it might seem, building the foundational lower body and the hormonal response from heavy weight bearing loads on the heels, femurs, and through the pelvis with the shoulder loaded seems to trigger this response in people of all ages. Even us geezers.