Strength training is an important part of any exercise routine, and you can even do it from the comfort of your own home through resistance exercises such as sit-ups and, especially, push-ups. However, for many people push-ups can be uncomfortable or difficult, which has led to the introduction of equipment such as the Perfect Pushup.
History
The Perfect Pushup consists of two circular platforms with handles that rotate as you lower and raise your body while performing a push-up. A company called Perfect Fitness based out of Northern California developed the Perfect Pushup. According to Popular Mechanics, Alden Mills, a seven year veteran of the United State's Navy special forces unit, the Navy SEALs, created the device after his platoon participated in a study on injuries associated with Naval training techniques. The Perfect Pushup has evolved into a second version, as well as a full line of different pieces of equipment such as Perfect Situp and Perfect Pullup.
Joint Protection
The advantage of the Perfect Pushup is the rotating motion of the handles of the push-up device. One of the purposes of this rotation is to reduce the stress of your body weight being placed on the joints of the wrists. Evaluations by exercise physiologists Fabio Comana, M.S., M.A., and Todd Galati, M.A., on behalf of the American Council on Exercise, or ACE, determined that reduction of stress on the wrists was similar to using dumbbells, which provide an elevated push-up stance that can reduce stress on the wrists as you lower and lift the body. However, Comana also states that the dynamic nature of the rotating handles makes it harder to keep the wrists in a neutral position.
Muscle Activation
The Perfect Pushup's rotation also helps to elicit the activation of more muscles, such as in the chest, triceps and shoulders. Researchers Nathan Boehlke and Dr. John Porcarithe and their colleagues from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse suggest that this extra muscle benefit is due to the additional four to five inches of height achieved from the device, which increase the overall range of motion for each push-up.
Safety Warning
Because there is less stability while using the Perfect Pushup device, it places additional strain on the shoulder in order to keep the body steady during the exercise. As such, ACE suggests that shoulder injury risks may increase, especially if you have weak shoulders or have had a shoulder injury in the past. If either of these conditions apply to you, speak with your doctor before using the device.
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