1. YOU CAN STRENGTHEN MULTIPLE MUSCLES AT ONCE
When you do a push-up, you work multiple muscles at the same time. Push-ups help strengthen your:
- Chest muscles
- Shoulders
- Triceps
- Biceps
- Upper back muscles
Moreover, because you must maintain proper form throughout the push-up movement, you’ll have to keep your core, hip, and leg muscles engaged as well.
If you’re searching for an exercise that will strengthen both your upper and lower body, the push-up is an excellent one to add to your routine.
2. YOU CAN MODIFY PUSH-UPS TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS AND FITNESS LEVEL
The nice thing about push-ups is that they come with many variations; you can modify how you do your push-ups to suit your current fitness level and make them more challenging as you get stronger.
A few examples of push-up variations include:
- Decline push-ups: Have your feet elevated on a work bench while keeping your hands on the floor.
- Diamond push-ups: Place your hands close together under your chest, with the thumbs and index fingers touching.
- Clap push-ups: Push yourself off the floor and clap your hands before you come back down.
3. YOU CAN STRENGTHEN YOUR JOINTS AND BONES
Push-ups don’t only strengthen muscles; they also help to build your body’s supportive structures.
For instance, because push-ups involve movement at the elbows and shoulders, regular push-ups will help strengthen those joints over time. As a bodyweight workout, push-ups are also beneficial for building and maintaining the strength of your body’s bones.
