Behind the neck pull downs

[AnnaD - TX]

I have read this numerous times that these exercises are not safe. But I still see people doing them not only beginners but people that are obvisously fit or have been training a long time. Does anyone do these? Can the exercise be safe if you use proper form?

[jgriffith]

I dont think there is anything wrong with them. If you're pulling way more weight than you can do with perfect form its not smart, but I've never injured myself doing them and I think they can be beneficial.

[gettnlnr]

I personally don't like them. They put my shoulder in an awkward position that hurts. I'm not sure if everyone is this way but I would never instruct anyone to do these.

[Chain]

Pulldowns behind the neck put more unnecessary stress on the shoulder and neck. That doesn't mean if you do them you are guaranteed to get an injury in one of those places, it just means there's a higher risk. And since there's no more benefit to doing them that way than in doing them to the front, there's not really a reason to do them behind the neck. But you could possibly do them your entire life and never have a problem from it.

[Cort]

Not sure why not if you aren't doing them wrong. I do behind the neck pull-ups once in a while too. Feels just like a normal pull-up to me.