What Do Push Ups Work?

Pushups are some of the most effective bodyweight exercises for building upper body strength in the chest, shoulders, and triceps. Perhaps best of all, the basic pushup can be performed almost anywhere, and you can make the exercise more difficult by either changing the hand or arm positions or incorporating additional movements.

Benefits of Push Ups

Pushups are a great way to build strength in the chest, shoulders, arms, and lower body. Pushups can also tone and strengthen your abdominal muscles. Many people find pushups to be one of the most effective bodyweight exercises to increase overall strength and endurance. With regular practice, you can also develop enhanced coordination and posture.

How to Do a Push Up

To do a standard pushup, place your hands shoulder-width apart and your feet together on the floor. Straighten your arms and legs and then bend your elbows outward, lowering your body until your chest nearly touches the floor. Push your body back up to the starting position and repeat. Start with 10 reps and gradually increase the number as you get stronger.

If you’re new to pushups, you can start with a modified version by placing your hands on a chair or countertop rather than on the floor. This versions gives you more stability and makes it easier to perform a full range of motion.

Conclusion

Overall, pushups are an incredibly versatile and effective exercise. The key to maximizing the benefits of pushups is to practice them regularly and to gradually increase difficulty as you get stronger. With patience and dedication, you can build upper body strength and endurance and improve core stability, coordination, and posture.