Dumbbell position: does it really matter?

[mrsprincess07]

Hi!

I would like to know if the position in which you hold your dumbbells really matters in terms of intensity and results? In the gym style series and muscle max You and the crew rest/hold the dumbbells on your shoulders for the lower body work during squats, lunges, ect. If we were to hold the dumbbells at our sides which is the modification, does it change how effective the movements are?

I can see how having them on your shoulder would engage more stabilizer muscles but for overall muscle growth of the larger muscles...I was unsure. It's just painful to hold a knobby dumbbell on the shoulders at times.

 

[NY25]

For those moves, there is no difference. I hold them at my sides all of the time, as I find it move comfortable and stable a position for me.

 

[amyg]

You're really holding the weights to make your legs work harder, so you are trying to make your body heavier with the weights. So long as you aren't holding the weights away from your body or with your arms flexed (and using your arm muscles as a result) it won't likely matter; just do what is comfortable. (I switch it up since some days one position feels more comfortable than the other for some reason!)