Pushups. Everyone knows them. They are one of the most common and best exercises to build strength. But they are also extremely difficult.
The difficulty translates to intimidation, and most people shy away from them. But the reality is that they are extremely beneficial in building core and upper body strength to help enhance independence and quality of life.
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You might not be ready to drop to the floor and start doing pushups quite yet. At least properly. And doing pushups properly is essential to avoiding injury and getting the true benefits.
To perform a pushup, you need good core strength to protect your hips from sagging and back from arching. When those things happen or your shoulders flare out, you risk injury to your neck, back, shoulders, and hips.
A proper pushup has your ankles, hips, back, neck, and head in a straight line through the entire motion. Your shoulders will align over your wrists, and there will be a slight tuck to your elbows.
It’s okay if you can’t do it right now. There are some easier moves to help you build enough strength to get you there.
One is an elevated pushup. This is where you essentially perform a standing pushup using a wall or countertop.
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Planks can help build the core strength you need to perform a proper pushup. Planking involves holding your body in a straight line, slightly unparallel to the floor, for a given period of time. Try to do as many 10-second reps as you can, gradually increasing intervals.
Flutter kicks can help with core and hip strength. You can do these by lying on your back and bending at the hip so both legs are off the ground at about a 150-degree angle. Next, start kicking your legs up and down, alternating between legs.
Once you’ve built some strength, you can try to get down and do proper pushups. If you’re not there yet, you can try doing modified pushups on your knees.
About eight years ago, Mat Lecompte had an epiphany. He’d been ignoring his health and suddenly realized he needed to do something about it. Since then, through hard work, determination and plenty of education, he has transformed his life. He’s changed his body composition by learning the ins and outs of nutrition, exercise, and fitness and wants to share his knowledge with you. Starting as a journalist over 10 years ago, Mat has not only honed his belief system and approach with practical experience, but he has also worked closely with nutritionists, dieticians, athletes, and fitness professionals. He embraces natural healing methods and believes that diet, exercise and willpower are the foundation of a healthy, happy, and drug-free existence.
