ActiveWorkouts3 mistakes everyone makes with push-upsAvoid these push-up blunders and grow big pecs without getting injuredWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
ActiveWorkouts3 mistakes everyone makes with push-upsAvoid these push-up blunders and grow big pecs without getting injuredWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Avoid these push-up blunders and grow big pecs without getting injured
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Push-ups are awesome. Thiscompound exerciseshould be on top of the list of moves you do tobuild muscleandlose weight–no wonder famously muscular people such as Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson loves doing them. However, when done incorrectly, this classic bodyweight exercise can put a lot of pressure on your joints and even get you injured.
Why should you do push-ups? According toRunRepeat, there are at least 50 science-backed benefits to doing push-ups, from developing upper body muscles to strengthening back as well as core muscles. TheHarvard Medical Schoolgoes as far as calling push-ups the “perfect exercise”.
And while we argue thatpull-upsandsquatscould also be good candidates for that exact title, there is no question about push-ups being highly beneficial to upper body muscle development. Learnhow to master push-ups, or at least which mistakes to avoid, right here, right now. The
1. Let your elbows flare out
One of the most common mistakes with push-ups is letting your elbows flare out. To make matters worse, many stock photos depict people doing push-ups the wrong way, with arms pointing outwards at a 90-degree angle.
Instead, try tucking the arms slightly. You don’t have to keep them right next to your body – that works the triceps the most – but you also shouldn’t let the elbows go all the way out either. Somewhere in between is the sweet spot, around the 45-60-degree mark.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2. Don’t brace your core
You can have enormous pecs and the most robust arms; if you haven’t got the core strength, you won’t be able to do many push-ups.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
You need a solid core to keep your body straight when in a high plank position which also happens to be the starting position for push-ups. And we all know that planks are hard! How long can you hold planks? Not for too long, I assume.
To strengthen the core, you might want to include thebest core exercisesin your workout routine. As an added benefit, these will also improve posture and ease back pain, as well as enable you to do push-ups properly.
3. Ignore wrist mobility
People often complain they experiencewrist pain during push-ups. There could be many reasons for this, from overdoing exercise to ignoring wrist flexibility. The latter is often overlooked yet super important, especially as we age. Doing push-ups can improve wrist resilience, but only if you warm them up before you start exercising.
Vollebak pushes the limits of outerwear with Double Graphene Puffer and Shielding SuitThe company continues to weave innovation into every thread
The company continues to weave innovation into every thread
Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 review: sensational sound, ordinary ANCBowers & Wilkins' step-down true wireless earbuds sound amazing and are well-priced – so what’s the catch, if anything?
Bowers & Wilkins' step-down true wireless earbuds sound amazing and are well-priced – so what’s the catch, if anything?
