Press up
Encyclopedia
For the 2004 single by Freestylers, see Push Up
A push-up, or in British English
a press-up, is a common calisthenics
exercise performed in a prone position
by raising and lowering the body using the arms. Push-ups exercise the pectoral
muscles, triceps, and anterior deltoids
, with ancillary benefits to the rest of the deltoids, serratus anterior
, coracobrachialis
and the midsection as a whole. Push-ups are a basic exercise used in civilian athletic training or physical education
and commonly in military physical training. They are also a common form of punishment used in the military or in school sport.
Primary muscles:
Secondary muscles (synergists or stabilizers):
or shoulder, rather than the chest muscles. When both hands are unbalanced or on uneven surfaces, this exercise works the body core. Raising the feet or hands onto elevated surfaces during the exercise emphasize the upper (minor) and lower (major) pectorals, respectively. Raising the hands with the aid of push-up bars or a dumbbell allows for greater ROM (range of motion) providing further stress for the muscles. In any variation of a push-up, a person will be lifting about 65% of his or her body weight.
position. These are known as "planche push-ups". To do this variation, the body's center of gravity must be kept over the hands while performing the push-up by leaning forward while the legs are elevated in the air, which requires great strength and a high level of balance. The entire bodyweight is lifted in this variation.
, such as Karate
and Tae Kwon Do, and may be used in boxing training while wearing boxing gloves
.
The intent, in addition to building strength and conditioning, is to toughen the knuckles, wrist, and forearm in the punching position. This variation also reduces the amount of strain in the wrist, compared to the typical "palms on floor" approach, and so it is sometimes used by those with wrist injuries. Such practitioners will usually perform their knuckle pushups on a padded floor or a rolled-up towel, unlike martial artists, who may do bare-knuckle pushups on hard floors.
(as opposed to the pectorals
), but with an extremely great distance between them.
Push-ups, Judo
Push-ups or Dive Bomber Push-ups, although the latter vary slightly in the second half of the movement) are a form of exercise prevalent in Indian
and Pakistani
physical culture and Indian martial arts
, particularly Pehlwani
. Hindu squats are called Uthak-bethak and the exercise regimen in Indian wrestling often consists of doing the Indian "jack-knifing push-ups", Indian club swinging
and squats. The Hindu jack-knifing push-ups are part of the core exercises for building up of strength, stamina, and flexibility of joints. The dand was also a part of the exercise regimen of Bruce Lee
. They are commonly called swallowdives in English speaking countries.
To execute a Hindu Push-up, one starts with feet and hands little more than shoulder width apart, forming the body into an upside down "V" and keeping the head, neck, and spine aligned.The arms are touching the ears in this position. From this starting position, commonly called Downward Dog
in Yoga
, one bends the elbows, lowering the head towards the ground and bringing the chest almost to the ground,while his hips are still about a couple of feet in the air then "swoops" forward to a "Cobra Pose
", which means that the head and shoulders are high with unbent elbows but the knees and hips are almost touching the ground. To this point, Hindu Push-ups and Dive Bomber Push-ups are the same. To return to the Downward Dog position in a Hindu Push-up, from the Cobra Pose, raise the abdomen into a normal plank position, then push your hips up and head backwards into Downward Dog.Thus we see that in a Hindu push-up, the head and hips go in circles rather than up and down. In an Dive Bomber Push-up, from the Cobra Pose, bend the elbows again and reverse the execution back into Downward Dog. In a downward dog, you should be seeing your knees.
The simple set of exercises of dand-baithak (push-up and squats) practiced in the villages of India
has a beneficial effect on the spine. It takes off the strain from the spine
and makes it fit to fight the other strains on the spine caused by the adoption of an erect posture.
The American College of Sports Medicine
(2000) recommends using a push-up test to examine endurance on the upper-body musculature. For a male subject, assuming a dand position, with back straight, head up, and hands placed shoulder width apart, lowering his body with his chin touching the mat; the abdomen should not touch the mat.
, head
, and neck
(thus the name) past the plane of the hands. The goal is to stretch the shoulder
s and put extra emphasis on the muscle
s there.
.
"Wall" push-ups are performed by standing close to a wall and pushing away from the wall with the arms; one can increase the difficulty by moving one's feet farther from the wall.
"Table" or "chair" push-ups are performed by pushing away from a table, chair, or other object. The lower the object, the more difficult the push-up. One should be sure that the object is securely stationary before attempting to push up from it.
"Modified" or "knee" push-ups are performed by supporting the lower body on the knees instead of the toes, which reduces the difficulty. This is useful for warm ups/downs, pyramids/drop sets, endurance training and rehab. It can also be used to train in a more explosive plyometric manner (like clapping pushups) when one can't perform them with the feet. It can also be used with the 1-arm variations as a transition.
"Three phase" push-ups involve simply breaking a standard push up into three components and doing each one slowly and deliberately. Participants usually start face down on the floor with hands outstretched either perpendicular or parallel to the body. The first phase involves the arms being brought palms down on a 90 degree angle at the elbows. The second phase involves the body being pushed into the up position. The third phase is returning to the starting position. This technique is commonly used after a large block of regular push ups, as it poses less stress and requires less effort.
"Diamond" or "Triceps" push-ups are done by placing both palms and the ground and touching together both thumbs and pointer fingers. This technique requires stronger triceps muscles than regular push-ups due to the fact that, at the bottom of the stroke, the forearm is nearly parallel to the ground and the elbow is almost completely flexed, resulting in much higher mechanical load on the triceps.
Another is simply an explosive push-up where a person attempts to push quickly and with enough force to raise his or her hands several centimeters off the ground, with the body completely suspended on the feet for a moment, a variation of the drop push. This is necessary for performing 'clap push ups' - i.e. clapping the hands while in the air.
With push-ups, many possibilities for customization and increased intensity are possible. Some examples are: One hand can be set on a higher platform than the other or be farther away from the other to give more weight to the opposite arm/side of the body and also exercise many diverse muscles. One can perform push-ups by using only the tips of the fingers and thumb. For increased difficulty, push-ups can be performed on one arm or using weights.
on the spot (whilst benefiting the punished), to show off physically or as demonstration of submission.
In a competitive or disciplinary context especially, it is not rare to use "nastier" variations, e.g., in mud, gravel, snow or dirt, hot ground, divested, and/or to make it physically harder, as by putting one's foot or a weight on the performer's back (possibly with sanctions if equilibrium is lost, such as spilling a glass) or to do the exercise resting on the knuckles or not use all fingers (not counting the thumb).
There are also online tools that help you build your strength in the supporting muscles, allowing you to increase the number of push-ups you can complete.
The world record for most two-handed backhand push-ups in one hour is 1,940 by Paddy Doyle
of the UK, set in 2007.
Doug Pruden (Canada) performed 1025 one arm push ups on the back of the hand on November 8th, 2008.
exhibit this display, primarily involving the male engaging in postures to attract the female. The Western fence lizard
is a particular species that also engages in this behavior. (It may be noted that in Mexican Spanish push-ups are called "lagartijas", which means "lizards".)
File:US Navy 030830-N-9693M-006 U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen (Mid'n) do push-ups following a touchdown during Navy's football season opener against Virginia Military Institute (VMI).jpg|U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen do push-ups following a touchdown during Navy's football season opener against Virginia Military Institute
File:US Navy 050529-N-4729H-109 Senior Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Ron Mitchell, a recruiter for the Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) community, shows a young fan how to do a Navy push-up.jpg|A recruiter for the Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) community, shows a young fan how to do a Navy push-up.
Push Up
This article is about the single. For the body exercise, see Push-upPush Up is a single by British group Freestylers, featuring Theo, released in 2004. It was a hit mainly in Belgium and Australia, as well as the Netherlands....
British English
British English, or English , is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the United Kingdom from forms used elsewhere...
a press-up, is a common calisthenics
Calisthenics
Calisthenics are a form of aerobic exercise consisting of a variety of simple, often rhythmical, movements, generally using multiple equipment or apparatus. They are intended to increase body strength and flexibility with movements such as bending, jumping, swinging, twisting or kicking, using...
exercise performed in a prone position
Prone position
The term means to lie on bed or ground in a position with chest downwards and back upwards.-Etymology :The word "prone," meaning "naturally inclined to something, apt, liable," has been recorded in English since 1382; the meaning "lying face-down" was first recorded in 1578, but is also referred to...
by raising and lowering the body using the arms. Push-ups exercise the pectoral
Pectoralis major muscle
The pectoralis major is a thick, fan-shaped muscle, situated at the chest of the body. It makes up the bulk of the chest muscles in the male and lies under the breast in the female...
muscles, triceps, and anterior deltoids
Deltoid muscle
In human anatomy, the deltoid muscle is the muscle forming the rounded contour of the shoulder. Anatomically, it appears to be made up of three distinct sets of fibers though electromyography suggests that it consists of at least seven groups that can be independently coordinated by the central...
, with ancillary benefits to the rest of the deltoids, serratus anterior
Serratus anterior muscle
The serratus anterior is a muscle that originates on the surface of the upper eight or nine ribs at the side of the chest and inserts along the entire anterior length of the medial border of the scapula.-Origin:...
, coracobrachialis
Coracobrachialis muscle
The Coracobrachialis is the smallest of the three muscles that attach to the coracoid process of the scapula. It is situated at the upper and medial part of the arm....
and the midsection as a whole. Push-ups are a basic exercise used in civilian athletic training or physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
and commonly in military physical training. They are also a common form of punishment used in the military or in school sport.
History
The American English term push-up was first used between 1905 and 1910, while the British English term press-up was first recorded in 1928.Muscles worked
While the push-up primarily targets the muscles of the chest, arms, and shoulders, support required from other muscles results in a wider range of muscles integrated into the exercise.Primary muscles:
- Anterior and medial deltoidDeltoid muscleIn human anatomy, the deltoid muscle is the muscle forming the rounded contour of the shoulder. Anatomically, it appears to be made up of three distinct sets of fibers though electromyography suggests that it consists of at least seven groups that can be independently coordinated by the central...
s ("delts") - Triceps
- Pectoralis majorPectoralis major muscleThe pectoralis major is a thick, fan-shaped muscle, situated at the chest of the body. It makes up the bulk of the chest muscles in the male and lies under the breast in the female...
and pectoralis minorPectoralis minor muscleThe pectoralis minor is a thin, triangular muscle, situated at the upper part of the chest, beneath the pectoralis major.-Origin and insertion:...
("pecs")
Secondary muscles (synergists or stabilizers):
- Rhomboid majorRhomboid major muscleThe rhomboid major is a skeletal muscle on the back that connects the scapula with the vertebrae of the spinal column. In human anatomy, it acts together with the rhomboid minor to keep the scapula pressed against thoracic wall and to retract the scapula toward the vertebral column.-Structure:The...
and rhomboid minorRhomboid minor muscleIn human anatomy, the rhomboid minor is a small skeletal muscle on the back that connects the scapula with the vertebrae of the spinal column.... - Erector spinaeErector spinaeThe Erector spinæ is a muscle group of the back in humans and animals. It is also known as sacrospinalis in older texts. A more modern term is extensor spinae, though this is not in widespread use. The name of the muscle is pronounced e-rec-tor speen-aye, or e-rec-tor spinae-ee.It is really not...
- Rotator cuffRotator cuffIn anatomy, the rotator cuff is the group of muscles and their tendons that act to stabilize the shoulder. The four muscles of the rotator cuff, along with the teres major muscle, the coracobrachialis muscle and the deltoid, make up the seven scapulohumeral muscles of the human body.-Function:The...
- Posterior deltoids ("delts")
- Serratus anterior
- Rectus abdominus ("abs")
- Transverse abdominus
- Gluteus maximus ("glutes")
- Quadriceps ("quads")
Variations
In the "full push-up", the back and legs are straight and off the floor. There are several variations besides the common push-up. These include bringing the thumbs and index fingers of both hands together (a "diamond pushup") as well as having the elbows pointed towards the knees. These variations are intended to put greater emphasis on the tricepsTriceps brachii muscle
The triceps brachii muscle is the large muscle on the back of the upper limb of many vertebrates. It is the muscle principally responsible for extension of the elbow joint .-Terminology:...
or shoulder, rather than the chest muscles. When both hands are unbalanced or on uneven surfaces, this exercise works the body core. Raising the feet or hands onto elevated surfaces during the exercise emphasize the upper (minor) and lower (major) pectorals, respectively. Raising the hands with the aid of push-up bars or a dumbbell allows for greater ROM (range of motion) providing further stress for the muscles. In any variation of a push-up, a person will be lifting about 65% of his or her body weight.
Planche push-ups
Another extremely difficult variation is to perform a push-up using only hands, without resting the feet on the floor, i.e. starting from and returning to the planchePlanche (exercise)
A Planche is a skill in gymnastics in which the body is held parallel to the ground, giving the illusion of floating. It is a move that requires a great deal of strength and balance....
position. These are known as "planche push-ups". To do this variation, the body's center of gravity must be kept over the hands while performing the push-up by leaning forward while the legs are elevated in the air, which requires great strength and a high level of balance. The entire bodyweight is lifted in this variation.
Knuckle push-ups
Another variation is to perform pushups on the knuckles of the fist, rather than with palms of the hands on the floor. This method is also commonly used in martial artsMartial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
, such as Karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
and Tae Kwon Do, and may be used in boxing training while wearing boxing gloves
Boxing gloves
Boxing gloves are cushioned gloves that fighters wear on their hands during boxing matches. The term also refers to gloves used in training, though these often differ from competition gloves...
.
The intent, in addition to building strength and conditioning, is to toughen the knuckles, wrist, and forearm in the punching position. This variation also reduces the amount of strain in the wrist, compared to the typical "palms on floor" approach, and so it is sometimes used by those with wrist injuries. Such practitioners will usually perform their knuckle pushups on a padded floor or a rolled-up towel, unlike martial artists, who may do bare-knuckle pushups on hard floors.
Maltese push-ups
"Maltese push-ups" are a gymnastic variation of the push-up, in which the hands are positioned closer to the hipsHip (anatomy)
In vertebrate anatomy, hip refer to either an anatomical region or a joint.The hip region is located lateral to the gluteal region , inferior to the iliac crest, and overlying the greater trochanter of the femur, or "thigh bone"...
(as opposed to the pectorals
Pectoralis major muscle
The pectoralis major is a thick, fan-shaped muscle, situated at the chest of the body. It makes up the bulk of the chest muscles in the male and lies under the breast in the female...
), but with an extremely great distance between them.
Hindu push-ups
"Hindu push-ups" (aka HanumanHanuman
Hanuman , is a Hindu deity, who is an ardent devotee of Rama, a central character in the Indian epic Ramayana and one of the dearest devotees of lord Rama. A general among the vanaras, an ape-like race of forest-dwellers, Hanuman is an incarnation of the divine and a disciple of Lord Rama in the...
Push-ups, Judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
Push-ups or Dive Bomber Push-ups, although the latter vary slightly in the second half of the movement) are a form of exercise prevalent in Indian
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Pakistani
Pakistani
Pakistani may refer to:Person associated with Pakistan* Demographics of Pakistan* List of PakistanisPakistani as a language:* Urdu, national language of Pakistan* Languages of PakistanOther:* Pakistani cuisine- See also :...
physical culture and Indian martial arts
Indian martial arts
The Indian subcontinent is home to a variety of fighting styles. In Sanskrit they may be collectively referred to as ' or '. The former is a compound of the words and , meaning "knowledge of the sword" or "knowledge of weaponry"...
, particularly Pehlwani
Pehlwani
Pehlwani or Pahlavani or Kushti is a Persian style of wrestling popular in Iran, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. It was developed in the Mughal era through a synthesis of Indian malla-yuddha and Persian Varzesh-e Bastani....
. Hindu squats are called Uthak-bethak and the exercise regimen in Indian wrestling often consists of doing the Indian "jack-knifing push-ups", Indian club swinging
Indian clubs
Indian clubs belong to a category of exercise equipment that was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Europe, the British Commonwealth and the United States. They comprise bowling-pin shaped wooden "clubs" of varying sizes and weights, which are swung in certain patterns as part...
and squats. The Hindu jack-knifing push-ups are part of the core exercises for building up of strength, stamina, and flexibility of joints. The dand was also a part of the exercise regimen of Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...
. They are commonly called swallowdives in English speaking countries.
To execute a Hindu Push-up, one starts with feet and hands little more than shoulder width apart, forming the body into an upside down "V" and keeping the head, neck, and spine aligned.The arms are touching the ears in this position. From this starting position, commonly called Downward Dog
Adho Mukha Svanasana
thumb|right|Downward-Facing DogAdho Mukha Svanasana, Adho Mukha Shvanasana , Downward-Facing Dog Pose, Downward Dog, or Down Dog, is an asana.- Etymology :...
in Yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
, one bends the elbows, lowering the head towards the ground and bringing the chest almost to the ground,while his hips are still about a couple of feet in the air then "swoops" forward to a "Cobra Pose
Bhujangasana
-Etymology:The name comes from the Sanskrit words bhujanga meaning "snake" or "serpent" and asana meaning "posture" or "seat".-Benefits:...
", which means that the head and shoulders are high with unbent elbows but the knees and hips are almost touching the ground. To this point, Hindu Push-ups and Dive Bomber Push-ups are the same. To return to the Downward Dog position in a Hindu Push-up, from the Cobra Pose, raise the abdomen into a normal plank position, then push your hips up and head backwards into Downward Dog.Thus we see that in a Hindu push-up, the head and hips go in circles rather than up and down. In an Dive Bomber Push-up, from the Cobra Pose, bend the elbows again and reverse the execution back into Downward Dog. In a downward dog, you should be seeing your knees.
The simple set of exercises of dand-baithak (push-up and squats) practiced in the villages of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
has a beneficial effect on the spine. It takes off the strain from the spine
Vertebral column
In human anatomy, the vertebral column is a column usually consisting of 24 articulating vertebrae, and 9 fused vertebrae in the sacrum and the coccyx. It is situated in the dorsal aspect of the torso, separated by intervertebral discs...
and makes it fit to fight the other strains on the spine caused by the adoption of an erect posture.
The American College of Sports Medicine
American College of Sports Medicine
The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. More than 40,000 international, national and regional members and certified professionals are dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and...
(2000) recommends using a push-up test to examine endurance on the upper-body musculature. For a male subject, assuming a dand position, with back straight, head up, and hands placed shoulder width apart, lowering his body with his chin touching the mat; the abdomen should not touch the mat.
Guillotine push-up
The guillotine push-up is a form of push-up exercise done from an elevated position (either hands on elevated platforms or traditionally medicine balls) wherein the practitioner lowers his chestChest
The chest is a part of the anatomy of humans and various other animals. It is sometimes referred to as the thorax or the bosom.-Chest anatomy - Humans and other hominids:...
, head
Human head
In human anatomy, the head is the upper portion of the human body. It supports the face and is maintained by the skull, which itself encloses the brain.-Cultural importance:...
, and neck
Neck
The neck is the part of the body, on many terrestrial or secondarily aquatic vertebrates, that distinguishes the head from the torso or trunk. The adjective signifying "of the neck" is cervical .-Boner anatomy: The cervical spine:The cervical portion of the human spine comprises seven boney...
(thus the name) past the plane of the hands. The goal is to stretch the shoulder
Shoulder
The human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle , the scapula , and the humerus as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder make up the shoulder joints. The major joint of the shoulder is the glenohumeral joint, which...
s and put extra emphasis on the muscle
Muscle
Muscle is a contractile tissue of animals and is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells. Muscle cells contain contractile filaments that move past each other and change the size of the cell. They are classified as skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscles. Their function is to...
s there.
Backhanded push-up
The backhanded push-up is a form of push-ups performed using the back of the hands, rather than the palms. Currently the record holder of the backhanded push-ups is Bill Katham who broke the world record in 2010, by performing 1,940 on Valentine's DayValentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
.
Other versions
There are some less difficult versions, which reduce the effort by supporting some of the body weight in some way. One can move on to the standard push-up after progress is made."Wall" push-ups are performed by standing close to a wall and pushing away from the wall with the arms; one can increase the difficulty by moving one's feet farther from the wall.
"Table" or "chair" push-ups are performed by pushing away from a table, chair, or other object. The lower the object, the more difficult the push-up. One should be sure that the object is securely stationary before attempting to push up from it.
"Modified" or "knee" push-ups are performed by supporting the lower body on the knees instead of the toes, which reduces the difficulty. This is useful for warm ups/downs, pyramids/drop sets, endurance training and rehab. It can also be used to train in a more explosive plyometric manner (like clapping pushups) when one can't perform them with the feet. It can also be used with the 1-arm variations as a transition.
"Three phase" push-ups involve simply breaking a standard push up into three components and doing each one slowly and deliberately. Participants usually start face down on the floor with hands outstretched either perpendicular or parallel to the body. The first phase involves the arms being brought palms down on a 90 degree angle at the elbows. The second phase involves the body being pushed into the up position. The third phase is returning to the starting position. This technique is commonly used after a large block of regular push ups, as it poses less stress and requires less effort.
"Diamond" or "Triceps" push-ups are done by placing both palms and the ground and touching together both thumbs and pointer fingers. This technique requires stronger triceps muscles than regular push-ups due to the fact that, at the bottom of the stroke, the forearm is nearly parallel to the ground and the elbow is almost completely flexed, resulting in much higher mechanical load on the triceps.
Plyometrics
Two platforms are placed beside the trainee, one on either side. The exercise begins with the hands on either platform supporting the body, then the subject drops to the ground and explosively rebounds with a push-up, extending the torso and arms completely off the ground and returning the hands to the platforms.Another is simply an explosive push-up where a person attempts to push quickly and with enough force to raise his or her hands several centimeters off the ground, with the body completely suspended on the feet for a moment, a variation of the drop push. This is necessary for performing 'clap push ups' - i.e. clapping the hands while in the air.
With push-ups, many possibilities for customization and increased intensity are possible. Some examples are: One hand can be set on a higher platform than the other or be farther away from the other to give more weight to the opposite arm/side of the body and also exercise many diverse muscles. One can perform push-ups by using only the tips of the fingers and thumb. For increased difficulty, push-ups can be performed on one arm or using weights.
Non-training
They are also commonly used as a fitness test or as a mild physical punishmentPhysical punishment
Physical punishment is any form of penalty in a judicial, educational or domestic setting that takes a physical form, by the infliction on the offender of pain, injury, discomfort or humiliation...
on the spot (whilst benefiting the punished), to show off physically or as demonstration of submission.
In a competitive or disciplinary context especially, it is not rare to use "nastier" variations, e.g., in mud, gravel, snow or dirt, hot ground, divested, and/or to make it physically harder, as by putting one's foot or a weight on the performer's back (possibly with sanctions if equilibrium is lost, such as spilling a glass) or to do the exercise resting on the knuckles or not use all fingers (not counting the thumb).
Software to count push-ups
A list of push-up based fitness software, running on Smartphones, laptops, and desktop computers has recently become available. The most basic tools require the user to physically touch the device with every push-up. More advanced software (e.g. the iPhone App "PushApp") detect the users body motion remotely using a combination of infrared sensors and cameras. The following table provides a list of push-up software:| Software Name | Device | Principle |
|---|---|---|
| PushApp | iPhone | Advanced push-up counter and calories calculator, which uses remote proximity sensor |
| Pushup Counter | Android | Push-up counter using remote proximity sensor |
| Push Up Trainer | Android | Advanced push-up counter that can use both the proximity sensor and the touch screen |
| 365days Push-ups | iPhone | User must touch iPhone with nose/lips |
| PushUp | iPhone | Uses infrared proximity sensor |
| Push-Up Counter | iPhone | User must touch iPhone with chin |
| PushUp!! | iPhone | User must touch iPhone with chin |
There are also online tools that help you build your strength in the supporting muscles, allowing you to increase the number of push-ups you can complete.
Record breakers and attempts
The record for the most push-ups non-stop was 10,507, set by Minoru Yoshida of Japan in October 1980.The world record for most two-handed backhand push-ups in one hour is 1,940 by Paddy Doyle
Paddy Doyle
Paddy Doyle of the UK is a professional multi-disciplinary athlete. The 2009 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records have recognised him as "The World Fitness Endurance Champion"....
of the UK, set in 2007.
Doug Pruden (Canada) performed 1025 one arm push ups on the back of the hand on November 8th, 2008.
In the animal kingdom
There are zoology observations that certain animals emulate a push up action. Most notably various taxa of the Fence lizardFence lizard
A Fence lizard can be either of two species of spiny lizard:*The eastern fence lizard or Northern Fence Lizard, Sceloporus undulatus*The western fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis...
exhibit this display, primarily involving the male engaging in postures to attract the female. The Western fence lizard
Western fence lizard
The western fence lizard is a common lizard of California and the surrounding area. Because the ventral abdomen of an adult is characteristically blue, it is also known as the blue-belly...
is a particular species that also engages in this behavior. (It may be noted that in Mexican Spanish push-ups are called "lagartijas", which means "lizards".)
Gallery
File:US Navy 030830-N-9693M-006 U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen (Mid'n) do push-ups following a touchdown during Navy's football season opener against Virginia Military Institute (VMI).jpg|U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen do push-ups following a touchdown during Navy's football season opener against Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
File:US Navy 050529-N-4729H-109 Senior Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Ron Mitchell, a recruiter for the Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) community, shows a young fan how to do a Navy push-up.jpg|A recruiter for the Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) community, shows a young fan how to do a Navy push-up.
See also
- Bench pressBench pressThe bench press is an exercise of the upper body. For bodybuilding purposes, it is used to stimulate the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. While on his or her back, the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest, then pushes it back up until the arm is straight...
- CalisthenicsCalisthenicsCalisthenics are a form of aerobic exercise consisting of a variety of simple, often rhythmical, movements, generally using multiple equipment or apparatus. They are intended to increase body strength and flexibility with movements such as bending, jumping, swinging, twisting or kicking, using...
- Handstand pushupHandstand pushupThe handstand push-up - also called the vertical push-up or the inversed push-up - is a type of push-up exercise where the body is positioned in a handstand. For a true handstand, the exercise is performed free-standing, held in the air...
- Jumping JackJumping JackA jumping jack , stride jump or star jump , also called side-straddle hop in the US military, is a physical jumping exercise performed by jumping to a position with the legs spread wide and the hands touching overhead and then returning to a position with the feet together and the arms at the sides...
- Plank (exercise)Plank (exercise)The plank is an isometric core strength exercise that involves maintaining a difficult position for extended periods of time...
- Sit-up (exercise)Sit-up (exercise)The sit-up is a strength training exercise commonly performed with the aim of strengthening the hip flexors and abdominal muscles. It begins with lying with the back on the floor, typically with the arms across the chest or hands behind the head and the knees bent in an attempt to reduce stress on...
- World Push Up ChampionshipsWorld Push Up ChampionshipsThe World Push Up Championships is an annual pushup tournament held in Wellington, New Zealand. The championships include separate mens and ladies competition. Male competitors are judged on the number of push-ups they can complete in a one minute period...
(in New Zealand)
External links
- "An Enduring Measure of Fitness: The Simple Push-Up" by Tara Parker-Pope, The New York Times, March 11, 2008
- "Variation Push-Up Instructional" by Richard Huntley, March 15, 2010
- Push-Ups Explained at ExRx