Benefits of Push ups
When many people think of upper body training, they think about bench press and barbell rows. However, the push up is one amazing, underrated upper body exercise. In this article, we will discuss eight benefits of push ups.
Push ups Build Upper Body Strength
Push ups can build incredible upper body strength. This exercise trains the chest, shoulders and triceps, in addition to your rhomboids, traps, rear delts, core and hip flexors.
This exercise can continue to challenge you for your entire training career. You can add weight to your push up to challenge you as you gain strength.
According to a study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning, the push up builds upper body strength just as well as the barbell bench press.
Push ups are a Bodyweight Exercise
Push ups are a body weight, compound exercise. Your muscles work in unison to do the perfect push up. Body weight exercises are usually easy on your joints and build body awareness and control more than free weight exercises.
Push ups Build Healthy Shoulders
Push ups allow your scapula to move freely at all phases of the movement, encouraging good shoulder health and function. In contrast to most weighted chest exercises, push ups do not require you to retract and depress your scapula.
In short, push ups allow free shoulder movement and are often easier on the shoulders than other chest exercises. This exercise helps you build strong and healthy shoulders that will function well for years to come.
Push ups Build a Strong Core
Interestingly, push ups also strengthen your core and abdomen.
If you are tight on time or want to strengthen your upper body and core at the same time, consider adding push ups to your routine.
Push ups are Versatile
Another benefit of this exercise is its versatility. You can do this exercise in your home, your hotel room or even at work.
This exercise does not require any equipment. If you don’t have access to a full gym or you would prefer to just work out at home, you can add push ups into your routine.
Push ups are Scalable
Another benefit of this exercise is its scalability. If you cannot do full push ups yet, you can try wall push ups or incline push ups.
Once regular floor push ups have become easy for you, you can try weighted push ups or other advanced push up variations.
This exercise can serve you whether you have just started working out or have been strength training for years.
Push ups are Good for your Heart
Push ups are also really good for your heart health. While cardio training often gets all the attention for heart health, strength training exercises can also improve your heart health.
A recent study found that men who could do more than 40 push ups were less likely to die early or face a cardiovascular incident than men who could do fewer than 10 push ups.
If you want to keep the cardiologist away, start doing push ups.
Push ups are Good for your Bones
Weight training exercises like push ups are also really good for your bones. Weight bearing resistance exercises like push ups help your body to build strong bones.
Building and maintaining your bone health can help prevent osteoporosis and fractures later in life. If you want to build strong bones, make sure to add push ups and other strength exercises to your exercise arsenal.
Closing Thoughts
Push ups are an incredible exercise to build strength and promote good health. This awesome strength training exercise does not even require any equipment and can be scaled to any fitness level.
Do you have any thoughts? Please leave your comments about push up benefits below.
