Parallel bar dips - Role of rear deltoids?

Hello everyone,

I've been doing paralle dips for a short time, and I started doing more negatives to try to improve my endurance in this movement. However, I noticed that, strangely, my rear deltoids and upper-middle trapezoids seem to be rather involved, because they get very "pumped" after doing a couple of sets of parallel bar dips. Is this an indication that I making a mistake in my form, or is it good?

Generally, I try to keep my scapula depressed throughout the whole movement, and slightly protracted at the top and somewhat retracted at the bottom.

Thank you for any suggestions, I really appreciate it!

Best regrads,

Antlitz

Usually the anterior part of the deltoid is worked along with the chest and triceps.  I wonder if it could be because of the negatives?

Interesting..

Klaudius Petrulis said:

Usually the anterior part of the deltoid is worked along with the chest and triceps.  I wonder if it could be because of the negatives?

 

Interesting..

Thanks for the reply Klaudius! That's exactly what I had been expecting! I never thought that the rear deltoids could possibly be involved, and now I am royally confused as to whether I'm making some sort of mistake that is perhaps lethal to my shoulders?

antlitz said:

Thanks for the reply Klaudius! That's exactly what I had been expecting! I never thought that the rear deltoids could possibly be involved, and now I am royally confused as to whether I'm making some sort of mistake that is perhaps lethal to my shoulders?

Any way I can see a video? It would help me figure out what was goin on!

edit: and I wouldn't worry if you're not feeling joint pain or discomfort.  as long as you are able to maintain the same mobility with the same lack of pain, you should be okay.

also, during these movements, do you feel your chest/tris working? It may be form or a type of imbalance.

then again, it may actually be from you actively depressing your scapula.

like I said... interesting.

Thanks for the suggestions Klaudius! I will post a video as soon as I can, within the next few days.

Whew, well that is certainly a relief, I definitely don't feel any pain, but I suppose I might be feeling a little discomfort, kind of like this stretching sensation in my shoulders in triceps occasionally.

I definitely feel my tris working, and my chest to a lesser extent. The imbalance you suggest sounds very reasonable, since I've only recently started really working my triceps/chest, and before only really did pullups/chinups/rows.

Thanks again, I will post a video as soon as possible, I really look forward to getting feedback on it!