Push-Ups: How-To, Muscle Worked, Benefit, Variations

Push-ups are a compound strength-training exercise that involves raising and lowering the body using the arms while facing down in a prone, horizontal position.

The classic push-up has survived the test of time and is the single most efficient exercise to simultaneously strengthen the chest, arms, deltoid, lower back, abs and glutes.

Push-ups are one of the most basic but rewarding all-around exercises you will find, and everyone from teenagers to older adults can benefit from doing them regularly.

Push-ups can be performed, regardless of where you are and, best of all, they are completely free—no expensive equipment or annual gym fees required! There are a whole host of push-up variations available to meet many needs.

Benefits of Push-ups

When it comes to training the pecs, bodyweight Push-ups exercises are a perfect choice because:

  • Push-ups will improve muscular endurance within the upper body, strengthen both muscles and bones.
  • Push ups will boost your explosiveness. Don’t believe me? Wait until you’ve worked your plyo push-ups to the flying progressions, and you’ll see what I mean!
  • The movements you’ll learn are highly functional. You’ll not only gain strength and size; you’ll become more powerful all around, your joints will stronger, and your core will tighten.
  • Push ups require more balance that can lead to greater muscle fiber recruitment.
  • Doing push-ups can be a powerful full-body workout and help to burn more calories. They use up a large amount of energy in a short period because the movements require large muscle groups to lift and hold much of the body’s weight.
  • It will increase your flexibility, which will go a long way towards preventing injuries;
  • As you’ll be moving your full body around, these drills will improve your metabolism, get you to burn more fat and help you achieve that mean and lean look.

What Muscles Do Push-Ups Work

Push-ups can be an excellent exercise for improving muscle strength and endurance. Adequate knowledge of push-up, anatomy, biomechanics, and variations helps to target the muscle as desired.
In the standard push-up, the following muscles are targeted.

  • Chest muscles, or pectorals minor and major
  • Shoulders, or Anterior deltoid and Posterior deltoid
  • upper and middle back muscles, including the latissimus dorsi, rhomboids, and Trapezius muscles
  • Back of your arms, or Triceps
  • The front of the upper arm, or Biceps
  • Abdominal
  • Serratus anterior, which sits on the side of the chest beneath the upper arm
Muscle Worked During Push Ups

However, push-ups require many other muscles in the body to work to keep the body in a rigid plank position. These muscles may include:

  • lower back muscles
  • abdominal, or core muscles
  • gluteus maximus and medius, which are the buttocks muscles
  • leg muscles, including the hamstrings, quadriceps, calf, and shin muscles

Type of Push-Ups

Push-ups can be performed with a multitude of variations to bring about different muscular recruitment patterns.

Many biomechanical variations of the Push-ups exercise can be performed to alter muscle activity by providing either a lesser or greater challenge to the target musculature. These variations most often involve altering hand and foot positions, which impacts muscle recruitment patterns and joint stresses.

A number of potential hand positions exist, the most common classifications include wide base (150% shoulder width), normal base (shoulder width), and narrow base (50% shoulder width).

The wide base activates the pectoralis major to a greater degree than the other positions, whereas the narrow base optimizes the activation of the triceps brachii.

Push-ups with the hands placed on a stability ball significantly increased the activation of the triceps brachii. Stability ball push-ups also increased pectoralis major, rectus abdominis, and external oblique activation compared with push-ups on a bench from the same angle.

The great thing about push-ups is that it will be hard for you and your body to get used to them. There are many varieties that target each muscle a little differently.

25 Best Type OF Push-Ups

Here are the Best Push-Ups variation for beginner, Intermediate and Advance.

Beginner Push-Ups

1. Wall Push Up

The “wall” push-up dramatically reduces the pressure on the arms, upper back, and abs.

The closer you stand to the wall, the easier it is to perform, but remember, it’s still important to be aware of your body alignment as you perform this push-up.

Wall Push Ups

How to do Wall Push-Ups

  1. Stand approximately 2 to 2.5 feet away from wall with your arms held at shoulder height in front of you.
  2. Place your hands against the wall with your body straight and your legs a few feet behind, so that your body draws a triangle together with the wall and the floor.
  3. Keeping your feet firmly fixed to the ground, lean your body forward so that your elbows flex and your chest comes within inches of the wall.
  4. Using your hands, push your body back into a standing position.
Proper Form
  • The movement should be smooth and controlled.
  • Try not to flare your elbows to the sides.

2. Box Push-up

For the next degree of difficulty, place the box or chair to support your arms while you perform regular push-ups.

This type of push-up allows you to really concentrate on the push-up motion—all without the strain of the traditional version.

Chair/ Box push-up
How to do Box Push-Ups
  1. Stand approximately 3 to 3.5 feet away from a low bench or sturdy chair. Reach forward and grab the sides of the chair or in front of the bench, keeping the balls of your feet in contact with the ground.
  2. Slowly lower yourself by flexing your elbows so that your chest comes within a few inches of the edge of the chair or bench.
  3. Using your hands, push yourself back to starting position while focusing on maintaining a straight body position from head to ankle.
  4. The movement should be smooth and controlled.
Proper Form
  • Be sure the bench or chair is stable and secure before you perform the push-ups.
  • Your back and legs should be straight at all times.

3. Knee push-up

The knee push-up, also known as a modified push-up, is a bodyweight exercise that works for muscle groups throughout your upper body.

The knee push-up is a brilliant exercise for beginners. If you’re having trouble performing a full push-up, practice an easier push-up variation, the knee push-up.

Knee push-up
How to do knee Push Ups
  1. Kneel on the floor. Extend arms and put hands shoulder-width apart on the floor in front of you.
  2. Lower yourself by flexing your elbows so that your chest comes within a few inches of the floor, making sure your body is in a straight line from your head to your knees.
  3. Raise your body to the starting position by pushing up with your arms.
  4. Repeat the desired number of repetitions.
Proper Form
  • Focus on keeping your muscles active even when you’re lowering to the floor.
  • Keep your back straight — never rounded! — throughout the move.
  • Tighten your abs and butt to work your core during push-ups.

4. Diamond push-up on knees

The diamond push-up on the knees is a brilliant beginner exercise for the development of the triceps brachii.

Once the diamond push-up on knees becomes easy, graduate to performing the exercise on your hands and forefeet.

Diamond push-up on knees
Diamond push-up on knees
How to do Diamond Push-Ups on Knee
  1. Get into a push-up position, supporting your body on your hands and knees instead of on your hands and forefeet.
  2. Your hands should be positioned in such a way as to form a diamond shape with your thumbs and index fingers.
  3. Keeping your body straight and rigid and your elbows close to your body, inhale as you lower your chest to the floor.
  4. Exhale as you extend your elbows and push your body back up to the starting position.
Proper Form
  • Keep your elbows tucked in to your body
  • Keep your body straight and rigid.

5. Incline Push-Up

Push-ups are a great multi-functional exercise because they work the entire upper body and back.

Performing push-ups at an incline angle will put more focus on the lower chest.

 Incline Push-Ups
incline Push-Ups
How to do incline Push-Ups on Knee
  1. Stand in front of the Stepper. Place the hands shoulder-width apart on the edge of the Stepper.
  2. Adopt an incline plank position by extending the legs backward until the legs and back form a straight line.
  3. Slowly bend the arms to lower the chest toward the bench. Remember to keep the elbows and arms close to the body.
  4. Slowly push the body away from the bench, extending the arms but maintaining a slight bend in the elbow.
Proper Form
  • Exhale while you exert.
  • Stand at a comfortable distance from the bench.

Intermediate Push-Ups

6. Standard Push-Ups

Check how to do them correctly and blast your muscles at home or at Gym. It is used to be done to build muscle and strength in the chest, shoulders, and arms.

Push-Ups can be a real challenge if done in various forms. Intensity is the key here to build muscle and Strength.

Push Ups
How to do Standard Push-Ups on Knee
  1. Lay face down on the ground with your legs straight, and arms supporting the upper body. Keep your knees off the ground.
  2. Raise yourself off the ground, straightening your elbows and your arms. But keep your elbows close to your body.
  3. Raise until your elbows are locked, and pause for a moment at the top of the movement.
  4. Now, lower your body under slow sustained motion, feeling the motion all the way down until your chest is very close to the ground.
Proper Form
  • Exhale while you exert.
  • For more variations, you do incline push-ups, decline ups.

7. Knuckle push-up

Doing Push-Ups on your knuckles is also a good way to save your wrists.

During Knuckle Push-Ups, the pressure is placed on your knuckles instead of your extended wrists.

If you experience pain in your wrists while doing standard Push-Ups, doing Push-Ups on your knuckles may be a good way to get the benefits without the pain.

Knuckle push-up
How to do Knuckle Push-Ups
  1. Assume a standard push-up position but place the knuckles of your fists (instead of your palms) on the floor perpendicular to the body.
  2. Perform a traditional push-up by keeping your body in a straight line while pushing yourself up, until your arms are fully extended.
  3. Slowly lower yourself back down to the starting position. This completes one rep.
  4. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Proper Form
  • Perform on an exercise mat to avoid any discomfort on your hands.
  • Don’t let your hips sag. Your body should be in a straight line throughout the movement. Push-ups are a great core exercise.
  • Keep your back, shoulders, and feet in a straight line.

8. Stability Ball Push Up

Using a Swiss ball (or exercise ball) can bring an extra element to push-ups, giving you an uneven surface to increase the difficulty.

You’ll have to focus on maintaining your balance on the ball, which allows you to work more than you would be performing the standard, floor-bound version of the classic move.

Stability Ball Push Up
How to do Stability ball Push-Ups
  1. Lay with your chest on the stability ball. Place your hands on the ball at the sides of your chest. They will be shoulder-width apart.
  2. Place feet back and lean forward so that your chest is directly over the ball, and you are supported on your toes.
  3. Push your body up, until your arms are almost straight (do not lock your elbows). Pause here for a second.
  4. Breathe out and extend your arms to bring your upper body back to starting position. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Proper Form
  • Keep your glutes and core muscles contracted.
  • Your neck should be in line with your body, not tilted up, which could strain the neck.

9. Feet on stability ball Push-up

The push-up with feet on a Swiss ball is a progression of the decline push-up that targets the chest, shoulders, and triceps while engaging the core. The exercise emphasizes the upper chest and shoulders.

Feet on stability ball push-up
How to do Feet on stability ball Push-Ups
  1. Lie face-down on the ball with your arms supporting you in push-up position. Roll forward until your pelvis and thighs are off the ball and positioned your feet on top of the ball.
  2. Your hands should be directly beneath your shoulders. And your body should form a straight line from head to heals.
  3. Breathe in as you lower yourself by bending your arms until your elbows form a 90-degree angle. Use your core muscles to stabilize yourself.
  4. Pause for one to two seconds at the bottom before breathing out and using your arms to push you up to starting position.
Proper Form
  1. Keep your elbows tucked in at your sides.
  2. Core tight and your back flat throughout the movement.
  3. Keep your body in a straight line. Don’t allow your hips to sag or rise.

10. Close Grip Medicine ball Push-up

The close-grip medicine ball pushup is an upper body strength exercise that targets the chest and shoulders, with slightly more of an emphasis on the triceps. The unstable surface of the ball also helps improve core strength and stability.

Resistance can be reduced by performing push-ups with knees bent on the floor or placing a medicine ball on a higher platform.

Close Grip Medicine ball push-up
How to do Close Grip Medicine ball Push-Ups
  1. Get in the standard push-up position with your hands on a medicine ball directly beneath your chest. Your left thumb and forefinger should touch your right thumb and forefinger.
  2. Bend your elbows to lower yourself in a controlled manner. Maintain a rigid core as your chest moves towards the top of the ball.
  3. Hold for one to two seconds before breathing out, extending your arms and pushing your body back to starting position.
  4. Repeat the desired number of repetitions.
Proper Form
  • Focus on maintaining balance during both phases.
  • Your elbows should be tucked at your sides, not flared out.
  • Do not attempt stability push-ups until you can do 20 basic push-ups.

11. Wide Push Up

Wide pushups are a simple yet effective way to build your upper body and core strength. If you’ve mastered regular pushups and want to target your muscles a little differently, wide pushups are a good option.

By positioning your hands further apart, wide pushups target your chest and shoulder muscles more than standard pushups.

Wide Push Ups
How to do Wide Push-Ups
  1. Lay face down on the ground with your legs straight, and arms supporting the upper body. Keep your knees off the ground.
  2. Put your arms in the 90/90 push up position. Slowly descend to the floor by retracting the shoulder blades and unlocking the elbows.
  3. Descend until the upper arms are parallel or your chest touches the floor. Push back to the starting point by extending the elbows and driving your palms into the floor.
  4. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Proper Form
  • Remember to keep your back straight with your abs and glutes contracted at all times.
  • Keep the chin down and don’t look forward.

12. Decline Push-Up

Decline Push-ups are similar to normal push-ups, but with your legs on a bench. Although this is called the Decline push-up, it focuses more on the upper pecs.

Furthermore, your lower body is raised from the floor, the resistance your body provides is increased compared to doing the push-up on the floor. This makes the decline push-up harder than the standard push-up.

Decline Push-Ups
How to do Decline Push-Ups
  1. Placed your hands firmly on the floor and spaced slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Put legs on the bench or the pad roller.
  2. Now raise yourself off the ground, straightening your elbows and your arms. Keep your elbows close to your body.
  3. Raise until your elbows are almost near to locked, and pause for a moment at the top of the movement.
  4. Now lower your body under slow sustained motion, feeling the motion all the way down until your chest is very close to the ground.
Proper Form
  • Exhale while you exert.
  • Vary the position of the bench to hit different angles of the upper chest.

14. Dumbbell Push-Up

Push-Ups is the best Bodyweight exercise to build your entire upper body and shoulder, chest, and arms. Push-Ups can be a real challenge if done in various angles and Intensity to Build Muscle and Strength.

Dumbbell Push-Up
How to do Dumbbell Push Ups
  1. Grip a dumbbell in each hand and get into a plank position with your palms facing down towards the floor. 
  2. Now raise yourself off the ground straightening your elbows and your arms but keep your elbows close to your body.
  3. Raise until your elbows are locked and pause for a moment at the top of the movement.
  4. Now lower your body under slow sustained motion, feeling the motion all the way down until your chest is very close to the ground.
Proper Form
  • Exhale while you exert.
  • Brace your core throughout your chest workout to keep it engaged.

15. Narrow Grip Push-Up

Push-ups are the best Bodyweight exercise to build your entire upper body, including shoulders, chest, and arms.

Narrow Grip Push-Ups is the best exercise to build inner pec and triceps. Take a narrower push-ups stance than you normally do, which is similar to a close-grip push-up that helps in building the inner chest.

Narrow Grip Push-Ups
How to do Narrow Grip Push-Ups
  1. Lay face down on the ground with your legs straight, palm near, and arms supporting the upper body. Keep your knees off the ground. Take a narrower push up stance than you normally would.
  2. Now raise yourself off the ground, straightening your elbows and your arms but keep your elbows close to your body.
  3. Raise until your elbows are locked, and pause for a moment at the top of the movement.
  4. Now lower your body under slow sustained motion, feeling the motion all the way down until your chest is very close to the ground.
Proper Form
  • Exhale while you exert.
  • For intensity and variation, do the decline variation.

16. Diamond push up

Diamond push-ups, also known as triangle push-ups, are a more advanced variation of the classic push-up. Practice diamond push-ups by bringing your hands too close together to form a diamond or triangle shape below your chest.

If you’re looking for a good bodyweight movement to train and work your chest and triceps, then diamond push-ups are it.

Diamond push ups
How to do Diamond Push-Ups
  1. Get on all fours with your hands together under your chest. Position your index fingers and thumbs so they’re touching, forming a diamond shape, and
  2. Now extend your arms so that your body is elevated and forms a straight line from your head to your feet.
  3. Lower your chest towards your hands, ensuring you don’t flare your elbows out to the sides and keeping your back flat.
  4. Stop just before your chest touches the floor, then push back up to the starting position.
Proper Form
  • Keep your body straight and rigid.
  • To make the diamond push-up easier, do it on your knees.

17. Spiderman Push-Up

The Spider-Man Push-Up is great if you’re getting tired of the standard push-up and need a challenge. This exercise is primarily chest and arm strengthening, but it also increases hip flexibility and really works your core too.

“Bringing your knee up to your elbow adds hip flexor and oblique contractions, depending on the angle that you can handle.

Spiderman Push-Ups
How to do Spider-Man Push-Ups
  1. Start in a high plank position with your hands flat on the floor about shoulder-width apart, wrists under shoulders.
  2. Keeping your body in one long line, bend your arms and lower yourself as close to the floor as you can.
  3. As you lower your body, bend one leg out to the side and bring your knee toward the same-side arm.
  4. Push back up to start, and straighten your leg back out. Repeat alternating sides.
Proper Form
  • Keep your knees high and away from the floor, and make sure that your movement is well-coordinated.
  • Do not let the elbows flare out. Keep the elbows close to your sides throughout.

18. Shoulder Tap Push Up

The shoulder tap push-up is a variation of the push-up that challenges the core to a greater extent than its traditional counterpart.

Once you have the ability to do at least 10 full push-ups, you should be able to start incorporating some shoulder taps into the mix. Be sure to rely on the strength of your core for most of the move.

Shoulder Tap Push Ups
How to do Shoulder Tap Push Ups
  1. Start in a high plank position with your palms flat on the floor, hands shoulder-width apart, shoulders stacked directly above your wrists, legs extended behind you
  2. Lower yourself by flexing your elbows so that your chest comes within a few inches of the floor, making sure your body is in a straight line from your head to your knees.
  3. Raise your body to the starting position by pushing up with your arms. Tap your left hand to your right shoulder while engaging your core and glutes to keep your hips as still as possible.
  4. Place it back on the floor and repeat your next push up and shoulder tap with another hand.
Tips
  • Do not let your lower back sag or your butt rise. Ensure your body is straight and rigid.
  • Your arms should resemble an arrow in the bottom position, not a “T”

19. Hindu push-up

The Hindu push up is a traditional Indian-style exercise practiced by wrestlers. Each repetition includes going from a downward dog position to a cobra pose, swooping by holding the head and body close to the ground.

The arms would be straight at the beginning and the end of the exercise. This variety of push-ups has existed for centuries among Indian martial artists. It works on core strength, shoulders, hips, and triceps.

Hindu pushup
How to do Hindu Push-Ups
  1. Start in a downward dog pose, with your hands shoulder-width apart, your body in a V shape, and your feet hip-width apart.
  2. Bend your elbows and lower your chest until it’s just above the floor, going into low plank pose.
  3. In a scooping motion, scoop your head upward while arching your lower and upper back and go into cobra pose.
  4. Return to the starting position, you do not need to reverse back through the sweeping, arching motion. Simply push back into the starting position.
Proper Form
  • Engage your core, relax the spine and neck, open the shoulders and keep the movement smooth.
  • keep the elbows close to your body.
  • Remember to breathe correctly as you do the push-ups.

Advanced Push Up

20. Weighted Pushup

Weighted push-ups are not just another rehab exercise or something that you would do at the end of the chest training days to enjoy the pump.

Tons of benefits can be enjoyed with the practice of weighted push-ups like a massive chest, Stronger Core, Stronger Arms, improve testosterone naturally, transforming the body into a fat-burning furnace.

Weighted Pushup
How to do Weighted Push Ups
  1. Get in the standard push up position with your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and arms fully extended. Have a partner load a weight plate onto your back.
  2. Keeping your core tight, slowly lower your body to the ground. Make sure to keep your elbows tucked in close by your sides, so they make a 45-degree angle with your torso.
  3. Once your chest touches the ground, pause, then press back up to the starting position. Have your partner remove the plate at the end of the set.
  4. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Proper Form
  • Avoid moving hips out of alignment. Instead, keep your core tight and back flat throughout the movement.
  • Perform each rep in the controlled manner.

19. Fingertip Push up

Doing push ups on your fingertips can look impressive, and it’s also an efficient exercise to increase your grip for basketball, bodybuilding, or rock climbing. The fingertip push up also keeps your wrists straight, making it an excellent way to eliminate wrist pain from the 90-degree bend when your palms are flat on the floor.

Fingertip push-ups can be dangerous without perfect form. You feel it would be better not to risk an injury to your fingers if they aren’t ready to support your weight.

Fingertip push-up
How to do Fingertip Push-Ups
  1. To assume a standard push-up position, your fingertips are in contact with the ground. Your hands should be slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
  2. Breathe in as you lower your torso to the ground until your chest is an inch or two from the ground. Keep your elbows close to your body.
  3. Breathe out as you push yourself up using your arms. Think of raising yourself by attempting to push the ground away from you.
  4. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Proper Form
  • Spread your fingers apart slightly for balance
  • Perform on an exercise mat to avoid any discomfort on your fingers.
  • Don’t allow your hips to drop. Keep your body in a straight line.

20. Single-Leg Push Up

A single-leg push-up is one of the most challenging variations for the basic push-up. The only possible way to complete this movement is with proper stability from your feet up through to your head.

Single-Leg Push Ups
How to do Single leg Push-Ups
  1. Assume standard push-up position, but place one foot on top of the other or one place one foot in air straight behind you.
  2. Lower yourself by flexing your elbows so that your chest comes within a few inches of the floor, making sure your body is in a straight line from your head to your toe and you one leg in air.
  3. Raise your body to the starting position by pushing up with your arms.
  4. Repeat the desired number of repetitions. Make sure to alternate legs in between sets and/ or repetitions to create a symmetrical body.
Proper Form
  • To preserve shoulder health, keep your elbows slightly tucked into your body.
  • Your neck should be in neutral alignment with the head in a straight line with the spine, from top of your head to feet.

21. One-arm Push-up

A one-arm push-up is a compound exercise that requires far more strength and balance than a standard push-up using two arms. The one-arm push-up just might be one of the most difficult body-weight exercises to master..

One-arm Pushup
How to do One Arm Push-Ups
  1. Get in the standard pushup position with feet wider than shoulder-width apart. Place one hand on the ground directly beneath your chest and the other behind your lower back.
  2. Straighten your legs behind you, spread them wide, and point your toes into the ground.
  3. To maintain balance, turn your torso slightly away from the pushing arm. Breathe in as you lower your angled torso to the ground until your chin is a few inches above the floor.
  4. Breathe out as you push yourself up from the floor, keeping your back straight. Stop just before you lock out your elbow at the top of the movement.
Proper Form
  • keep your core tight and back flat throughout the movement.
  • Do not rotate your arm outwards from your chest, as it will put additional stress on the elbow that can lead to discomfort and injury.

22. Archer Push-Up

In Archer push up, the arms are kept wider than the normal push-up position and as you lower your body, you transfer the majority of your weight to one of your hands and incline towards that hand while the other hand is kept straight.

Archer Push-Up
How to do Archer Push-Ups
  1. Start in a standard pushup position with your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and elbows completely locked out.
  2. Maintain a strong core position and shift your upper body toward your right side. Pull your right chest toward your right hand as you bend your right elbow.
  3. As you lower toward the right side, allow your left arm to straighten. Your left arm should be fully extended, forming a straight line from your shoulder to your hand.
  4. . Repeat for your desired number of repetitions, switch sides.
Proper Form
  • Don’t let your hips raise.
  • Make sure your body is in the straight line from head to the feet

23. Pike Push Up

Pike Push-ups aka shoulder push up is a variation of the push up that increases strength and stability in the shoulders and triceps. Performing the exercise in a more upright position will target the shoulders more than the chest.

The pike push-up looks like a mash-up of Downward-Facing Dog and Dolphin Pose, and this move can build major strength.

Pike Push Up
How to do Pike Push-Ups
  1. Start in a standard push-up position with your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and elbows completely locked out.
  2. Lift the hips up and back until your body forms an inverted V shape. Keep arms and legs as straight as possible.
  3. Slowly lower the top of your head towards the ground. Once your head is about to make contact with the ground, pause for a second.
  4. Then slowly push back up to your arms are straight, and you’re in the inverted V position.
Proper Form
  • Make sure you maintain control throughout the movement.

24. Clapping push-up

Clapping Push-ups aka Plyometric (plyo) push up is an advanced exercise that works your chest, triceps, abs, and shoulders. With this type of push up, a “jumping” element is added to the exercise to make it more challenging and explosive.

Plyo push ups can help burn fat and build muscle. Many athletes perform them to help improve their athletic performance by building strength, endurance, and speed.

Clapping push-up
How to do Clapping Push-Ups
  1. Start in a standard Push-Ups with your palms flat on the floor, hands shoulder-width apart, shoulders stacked directly above your wrists, legs extended behind you.
  2. Your body should form a straight line from your shoulders to your ankles. Brace your core by contracting your abs.
  3. Start to lower your body as if you’re going to do a pushup until your chest is almost touching the floor.
  4. Reverse the motion by pushing hard through the palms, just as your arms reach full extension, pull your hands up off the floor. Rapidly clapping the hands together and placing them back in the original position before your body falls back to the ground.
Proper Form
  • Be sure to exhale when exploding off the ground and inhaling on the way down.
  • Do not let the elbows flare out. Keep the elbows close to your sides throughout.

25. Handstand Push Up

The handstand push-up also called the vertical push-up is a type of push-up exercise where the body is positioned in a handstand. To prepare the strength until one has built adequate balance, the feet are often placed against a wall, held by a partner, or secured in some other way from falling.

Handstand push-ups require significant strength, as well as balance and control if performed freestanding.

Handstand push ups increase the load on the triceps brachii muscles significantly over regular push ups, having the arms hold almost 100% of the body’s weight rather than an average of 60 to 70% during normal push ups.

Handstand Push Up
Handstand Push Up
How to do Handstand Push Ups
  1. Place hands about 6-12 inches away from the wall and slightly wider than shoulder width apart. Make sure palms are facing forward, or slightly turned out 5-10 degrees.
  2. Kick up into a handstand, with your heels touching the wall. Once you have kicked up, establish a strong, rigid midline position.
  3. While maintaining this position, lower yourself until the top of your head touches the floor/mat. Try to keep your elbows at a 45 degree angle as you lower.
  4. Once your head touches the floor, press up with the same tightness you had lowering yourself, until your elbows reach full extension.
Proper Form
  • Not to arch your back and keep contract your abs.
  • Do not do this move on consecutive days. Rest for at least 2 days before trying this move again to give your body time to recover.
  • Point your toes, squeeze your glutes, and grip the ground with your fingertips for a better feeling of stability.

Conclusion

For anyone, who is interested in building core muscles and gaining strength, these push ups exercises are highly recommended. It not only allows for targeted muscle development but also provides overall development. It is easy to do and requires no more scientific details. If done consistently, the results will speak by themselves.

Disclaimer:

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health advice. We would ask you to consult a qualified professional or medical expert to gain additional knowledge, before choosing to consume any product or perform any exercise.

35 Best Push Ups Variations for Beginner, Intermediate and advanced
10 Best Chest Exercises and Workouts for Bigger Chest
Resistance band chest workout at home | Resistance Band Chest Exercises

Block Title

Leave a Comment