Pushups

[Typhoon]

Anyone know what kind of long term effect do pushups have on your shoudlers? do they make them bigger? do they make them weaker? or other such effects?

I know pushups from a hand stand do and pushups with one hadn do hurt your shoulders after a while

[Nick]

Doing just about anything wears down your body. Whether you avoid supposedly dangerous exercises or not, your body will eventually break down and you'll die... don't stress over freaking push ups.

Later...

[Typhoon]

lol thx

[Great Sage]

Consistently doing push-ups will add strenght and stamina — provided you perform them correctly. From my experience as a weight lifter, you may not gain a lot of muscle mass from doing push-ups, but you will gain a lot of strength. As far as injuries go, if you feel a lot of pain chances are you’re doing something wrong. Good exercises hurt, but in a good way that one can usually distinguish. I would avoid one-arm push-ups and head stand push-ups. Here are some better alternatives and good schedule to start off with.

Regular push-ups: Strenghtens upper body, abdominal muscles and legs.

Feet Elevated Push-ups: Targets the biceps and shoulders. You’ll need a folding chair. Place the chair with its back against a wall. Place the balls of you feet on the platform of the chair so that you seem to be doing a push-up with your legs raised above you. You’ll be facing down awkardly as your feet are high up on the chair. Do your push-up from this position. Targets the biceps and shoulders.

Wide Grip Behind the Back Pull-ups: Work in pull-ups, they’ll complement your workout. Do these with a wide grip beyond your shoulders. Pull yourself up so that the bar ends up behind your neck. This works your back, primarily your lats.

Wide Grip to the Front Pull-ups: The same as thing, but pull yourself up so that the bar ends up on your collar bone.

Push-up Between Chairs: You’ll need 3 folding chairs for this exercise. This exercise simulates the bench press. Place the chairs in a “T” shape with all the front ends facing in. Your feet go on the base of the “T” while each of your hands rest on one of the other two chairs. You will look to be doing push-ups in the air. The two chairs supporting your hands should be just further than shoulder with. Dip down for your push-up and go as far as you can. You’ll feel your chest expand.

Tricep Push-up: Place chair against the wall. The front is facing you. Place your hands on the front of the chair making sure your thumbs are about 2 inches apart. With your back and legs straight, bring your chest down and touch your thumbs, then push back up.

Reverse Tricep Push-up: Using the same chair in the same position. Turn around so that your back faces the front of the chair. Place the palms of your hands on the front edge of the chair. You should be resting on your heels with your feet pointing up. Let your body drop then push up. Remember, you are NOT facing the chair.

Parallel Bar Dips: Place 2 folding chairs adjacent to each other, but facing in opposite directions. The front ends should be facing away from you. Stand in the middle and place your hands on the top of each chair. Dip yourself, bending your knees and then push your body back up.

Schedule
Day 1
Regular push-ups
Set 1 — 15 Reps
Set 2 — 10 Reps
Set 3 — 5 Reps

Feet Elevated Push-ups
Set 1 — 15 Reps
Set 2 — 10 Reps
Set 3 — 5 Reps

Wide Grip to the Back
3 Sets of as many reps as you can do

Wide Grip to the Front
3 Sets of as many reps as you can do

Repeat entire sequence. Mix things up and increase sets as you progress. Keep in mind: bicep and back.

Day 2
Feet Elevated Push-ups
Set 1 — 15 Reps
Set 2 — 10 Reps
Set 3 — 5 Reps

Tricep Push-ups
Set 1 — 15 Reps
Set 2 — 10 Reps
Set 3 — 5 Reps

Reverse Tricep Push-ups
Set 1 — 15 Reps
Set 2 — 10 Reps
Set 3 — 5 Reps

Parellel Bar Dips
Set 1 — 15 Reps
Set 2 — 10 Reps
Set 3 — 5 Reps

Repeat sequence.

Do this for a few weeks and you’ll notice increased strength.

[Toudiyama]

Heck, we had kids below the age of 10 doing upto 10 sets of 10, inbetween do stretch excercises

to motivate I would tell them that the next group (from 10 to 14 years) was doing an amount 10 or 20 more than I asked from them (total not sets )

[kh_s]

What is harder, the "T" with the three chairs (fully elevated) or the feet off the ground? I may sound stupid for asking this, but I tried the fully elevated ones and I struggled less than the ones where your feet are onyl elevated.

[hashpuppet]

pushups are a lot easier when you're a kid, i think the strength:weight ratio decreases a lot when you're older, i remember i could do 50 pushups straight when i was a kid, i didnt work out or anything, and now it tires me out to do 20, though i just started doing pushups again.

[Szczepankiewicz]

Feet Elevated Push-ups: Targets the biceps and shoulders

***Warning: Serious quesiton, no shit flinging intended!***

Sage,
can you 'splain this one to me? Did you mean triceps or did you mean biceps? If so, how?

Spanky

[RebelFury]

*Hurls a turd*

Now that was intentional shit-flinging..