A trainer in my gym swears by putting his feet on the bench for presses but MF says to put your feet on the floor. What’s correct?
Michael Logan, Newport

Jason Anderson answers: Some trainers do this to place greater load on the chest because you depress the chest cavity and externally rotate the shoulder joint. But this puts you at greater risk of injury – your shoulders are already under stress because the shoulder blades are fixed in place by the bench. It’s much more beneficial to keep your spine neutral, with a small curve in the lower back, by placing your feet on the floor. You will feel more stable and you’ll be able to push more weight. If you find that your back arches too much as a result of placing your feet on the floor, you could try raising your feet by placing them on a low step.