Bob Cicherillo Argues Bench Press Is 'The Worst Exercise In the World,' Says It Causes Pec Tears

With pec tears becoming more common in bodybuilding, questions about exercise selections have surfaced. In a recent video, shared on Nov. 12, 2025, industry expert Bob Cicherillo shared that the bench press is the worst exercise in the world because it puts the pec insertion in a vulnerable position.

Pec tears have definitely had an impact on the sport of bodybuilding. Just four weeks before aiming to reclaim the Mr. Olympia title, Derek Lunsford revealed that he tore his chest on the bench press . Despite the setback, he still managed to win back the Sandow trophy following an incredibly close battle with his rival, Hadi Choopan .

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Bodybuilder Charles Griffen suffered a similar injury , which forced him to take a substantial break from competition. I