Bodybuilding.com - Pushups Exercise Guide and Video

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Pushups

Exercise Data

Type: Strength
Main Muscle Worked: Chest
Other Muscles: Shoulders, Triceps
Equipment: Body Only
Mechanics Type: Compound
Level: Beginner
Sport: No
Force: Push
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Main Muscle: Chest

Lie on the floor face down and place your hands about 36 inches apart while holding your torso up at arms length.
Next, lower yourself downward until your chest almost touches the floor as you inhale.
Now breathe out and press your upper body back up to the starting position while squeezing your chest.
After a brief pause at the top contracted position, you can begin to lower yourself downward again for as many repetitions as needed.

Variations:

If you are new at this exercise and do not have the strength to perform it, you can either bend your legs at the knees to take off resistance or perform the exercise against the wall instead of the floor.

For the most advanced lifters, you can place your feet at a high surface such as a bench in order to increase the resistance and to target the upper chest more.