Machine Chest Press

Chest Press MachineBeginnerCompound

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Quick answer

Machine Chest Press is a beginner compound machine exercise that mainly works the chest, with the triceps assisting.

Written by the GymStreak coaching team

Muscles worked

Front

Back

Primary

Chest

Secondary

Triceps

How to do Machine Chest Press

1
Select a weight and adjust the height of the seat to suit you. Sit up straight and hold the handles. They should be at the middle of the chest, adjust the height of the seat if this is not the case. Push the handles slightly to create some tension. This is your starting position.
2
While breathing out, push the handle out as far as your can.
3
After a brief pause, slowly return to the starting position, inhaling while you do so.

Form cues

When returning to the starting position, return the weight to just above its resting point to keep tension throughout the exercise.
Perform the reps slowly and in a controlled manner.

Breathing: Breathe in during the eccentric (retracting) portion of the exercise and breathe out during the cocentric (pushing) portion.

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