Made by Perfect Fitness, the Perfect Pushup is a compact piece of exercise equipment that takes the traditional pushup and adds a "twist." The Perfect Pushup is designed to improve upper body and core strength by working the arms, chest, shoulders and back. To enhance the workout experience, the Perfect Pushup is made with rotating cushioned handles with nonslip bases for stability.
Inventors
The Perfect Pushup was created by Alden Mills, a former Navy SEAL. During his time as a SEAL, Mills participated in a physical fitness tests consisting of pushups, pull-ups, sit-ups and running every six months. The repeated physical fitness tests and experience with pushups were the first contributors to the development of the Perfect Pushup. After inventing the Perfect Pushup, Mills started BodyRev, a company specializing in the development and marketing of fitness equipment.
Purpose
Along with the background in pushups and fitness exercises, Mills gained additional motivation for developing the Perfect Pushup after he was chosen to participate in a year-long research study of the relationship between SEALS and injuries. The study focused on the high injury rates throughout their careers. When the study was completed, the Navy switched from promoting traditional bodybuilding exercises to functional exercises that resembled the demands of the job.
Research
After the Perfect Pushup was released to the general public, it received numerous formal and informal research studies testing its effectiveness. While one report from Consumer Reports stated the panelists had mixed expectations and reactions about the results from the Perfect Pushup, other studies report various benefits. For example, a research study released in May-June 2009 newsletter from the American Council on Exercise reported that the instability from the Perfect Pushup may be beneficial for individuals with good shoulder stability and health.
Popularity
Originally sold through television infomercials, the Perfect Pushup quickly grew in popularity. The bulk of the population using the Perfect Pushup included military personnel training for physical fitness tests or general fitness enthusiasts looking to lose weight or increase upper body strength. As a result of the Perfect Pushup's popularity, other Perfect Pushup models and variations have been developed. These variations include the Perfect Pushup Mobile Unit and Perfect Counter.
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