The bicep is a muscle responsible for rotating the forearm and flexing the elbow. A push-up is a strength training exercise that develops muscles in the upper body. While your arms may be fully engaged when you do push-ups, biceps do not gain the same muscle-building benefits as your triceps, chest and shoulders.
How to Do a Push-up
Health and fitness expert Kyle Brown says that push-ups primarily benefit the upper body, including your chest, abdomen, shoulders and arms. To do a proper push-up, lie flat on the floor. Place your hands palm down on the ground a few inches away from, but parallel to, your shoulders. Keep your knees slightly apart and in line with your hips. As you push your body off the ground, the goal is to engage entire muscle groups in your arms, rather than lifting off with your wrists. Your head and neck should be relaxed. Using your abdominal muscles, keep your back straight rather than arched.
Targeting Biceps
Biceps are the upper arm muscles that run from the inside of the elbow to the shoulder that you use to "pull." One exercise used specifically for targeting biceps is the bicep curl. The MayoClinic.com says that to do a bicep curl, you hug your upper arms close to your body and slowly curl weights or a barbell up toward your chest by bending your elbows. Keep wrists straight and rigid and your abdominal muscles tight. You should feel tension in your bicep muscles at the front of your upper arms while lifting.
Modified Push-ups
According to Brown, the push-up is one of the most universal fitness exercises because of its ability to work so many muscle groups. It's also a versatile exercise that can be modified to benefit different muscles. A diamond push-up requires you to place your hands close together, forming a diamond pattern with your thumb and index fingers. Keep your knees on the floor and ankles in the air and crossed. This position uses engages the triceps, which are muscles in the back of your upper arms. The wide-stance push-up is done with your hands placed several inches away from, but parallel to, your shoulders and will work the muscles covering the shoulders, known as deltoids.
Push-ups and Biceps
According to exercise expert Ellen Barrett, the inside push-up is a modified push-up that targets biceps and upper back muscles. Place your hands about 3 inches apart, rather than directly below your shoulders. As you lower your body toward the ground, allow your chest to graze the floor before pushing back up. If you do not feel tension in the front of your upper arms, your hands are likely too far apart.
Burn Fat
While push-ups are one of the best exercises for strength training and toning muscles, they will not burn fat. If you are overweight, incorporate aerobic exercise into your workout routine. Exercises that speed your heart rate and cause you to break a sweat will burn fat. Push-ups will tone the underlying muscles.
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