If bench presses are a chest exercise, why do I feel the burn in my arms?

Question

As far as I know my technique is proper, but it feels like my arms are getting the work out.

Answer 1

Because you are worthless and week.

Answer 2

If you're using proper technique, then keep at it. A large exercise like a bench press uses all of the muscles from the chest through the hands (to hold on). However, the strain is greatest in the chest and that's where the maximum work should be.

If, however, your chest is perfectly able to take more strain, relatively speaking, than your arms, you'll feel it in your arms. Once you do it awhile, your arms will catch up and your whole body will equilibrate, thus leading to a workout of the entire upper body system.

Answer 3

It's because the bench press is not actually a functional exercise and for most people, it does not in fact, work the chest much at all. Instead, it works the entire upper chain in a highly random fashion. That is, of course, how it has any effect at all. Being a large muscle group exercise, causes ALL of your muscles to grow, not from the stress put on the muscle, but by the hormonal changes this effects in your body. Growing muscle is about two exercises really....the bench press and the squat. Of the two, the squat is more important.

If you specifically want to work the chest, there are three exercises you want to do.....pushups, work with a pec deck (use google to find one of these), and fly curls. Only pushups will add girth to your chest without the large body work above (or steroids). A related exercise that will work the outer pec and shoulders is handstand training.

Answer 4

Every time you lift the bar up and down, your arms contract so that the bar won't fall on your face. Also, with each rep, your arms straighten and flex, all of which requires use of the biceps, triceps, forearms wrists and elbow joints.

Also, if you have extra long arms, (as I have), a wider grip is required to get the proper leverage on your chest. Try a wider bench or just grip the bar as far from the center as possible.

Answer 5

When you do your bench presses, remember two things: First, do not lock your elbows at tht top of the movement. Doing so will place stress on your joints rather than your muscles. Second, push the bar up with your elbows rather than your hands. You should be able to feel it more in your pecs rather than your arms if you do so. It is not true that when benching, your arms get more of a workout than your pecs. You've just gotta push upwards with the elbows (focus on your elbows) rather than your hands. Try it.

Answer 6

Bench press mainly works out your Triceps. It is the muscle on the outter side, or the opposite side of your bicep. It will also work your chest.

Answer 7

Part of the burn will come in your arms obviously since you are pushing with them. However, if you are using the proper weight and use a nice easy form, you feel burn in both places.

Answer 8

Your arms are getting A work out. Not THE workout. Both your chest and your arms and back and shoulders are getting a workout. Enjoy. God Bless you.

Answer 9

It targets mainly your chest, but as in many other exercises such as squats that also can target your lower back and sometimes abs, bench pressing can also target certain spots in your arms (biceps)

Answer 10

if your using wide grip bench presses then it will hit your pecs, however to get there you have to build up the weak links in your body which apprently is your arms.

Answer 11

well, they are working too. but maybe you should have someone knowledgeable watch you do the presses to verify you are using proper technique.