The Perfect PushUp is a simple, home fitness device that works parts of your upper body. The main function of the Perfect PushUp is to alleviate the wrist and forearm pain associated with regular push-ups. The Perfect PushUp handles rotate for a more natural, comfortable grip during push-ups, dips and other upper body exercises. Although the Perfect PushUp targets many muscles of your upper body, it does not work all of the muscles of your upper body.
History
The Perfect PushUp was created by Mark Friedman and Alden Mills, a former Navy SEAL. While in the Navy, Mills' platoon was chosen for a study to determine why Navy SEALS had high injury rates. The lessons he learned from this study are the principles he used to create the Perfect PushUp. The rotating handles on the Perfect PushUp device allow for a more natural grip, taking pressure off your wrists and forearms.
Benefits
The Perfect PushUp elevates your body off the floor, providing an increased range of motion over a standard push-up. The American Council on Exercise sponsored a study at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, to test the effectiveness of the Perfect PushUp. Wide-grip and standard-grip push-ups performed on the Perfect PushUp device elicited more muscle activity in the chest, triceps and front shoulders than a standard push-up on the floor. The activity in these muscles was the same when a narrow-grip push-up was performed on the floor versus on a Perfect PushUp. The researchers theorize that the extra range of motion, which does not occur during a narrow-grip push-up, is responsible for the increased muscle activity during a Perfect PushUp.
Muscles
As indicated by the study at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, the chest, triceps and front delts are all worked when you use the Perfect PushUp. You can perform other exercises, besides a push-up, on the Perfect PushUp device. Dips target the triceps and chest, and pike presses target the shoulders. The muscles that the Perfect PushUp does not target directly are the abs, back and biceps. These muscles are involved in various exercises done on the Perfect PushUp. The abs and some muscles in the upper back help stabilize the body during a push-up. The biceps assist during pike presses. However, none of these muscles actively contract during Perfect PushUp exercises.
Risks
The increased range of motion on the Perfect PushUp provides the advantage of increased muscle activity. However, it also has some disadvantages. The American Council on Exercise cautions that the increased range of motion may increase the risk of shoulder injury, especially in those with shoulder problems or lack of strength. Beginners may overextend themselves and risk tearing or straining the shoulder muscles.
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