PUSH UP YOUR POTENTIAL — VARIATIONS AND BENEFITS OF PUSHUPS

Push up position — A man using one of Range of Motion’s fitness tool in a push up position.

The pushup is considered one of the greatest conditioning exercises used by athletes. It is extremely versatile in the muscle groups that can be targeted as well as having the versatility to be performed anywhere and everywhere. If there is gravity, a pushup can be executed.

In saying this it is important you give yourself time to build true form and functional strength before you go about performing pushups anywhere you like. For beginners it is vital that you build up the strength in the core by starting with the plank. From there you can develop strength through your arms by practicing commando push ups. This exercise starts in the plank, pushing up with one arm and then the other to be in a push up position, Then dropping one arm back onto the forearm followed by the other arm, ending in the plank position. If you struggle to do push ups this is a great place to start and build up your functional strength.

The push up can be performed in many different ways depending on the muscle group that you wish to target. But in all the exercises it is important to keep a neutral spine throughout and maintain stability through the core. Speed is not an important factor when performing the push up, rather slow and controlled movement will provide a more impactful exercise.