Pushups are an exercise that works the chest, arm and shoulder muscles, along with helping to strengthen your core. Stationary and rotating pushup bars help you get into position and perform the movement. For people with certain conditions, a pushup bar might be preferable to the old-fashioned method. But whether you use a bar or not, pushups are hard work.
Benefits
People with carpal tunnel or other arm and hand problems may find pushups difficult to perform. A pushup bar is elevated off the floor, which allows you to hold onto the unit with your hands. This prevents discomfort in the hand, wrist and arms because you're not placing your weight on a bent or flexed wrist. The elevated bar increases your range of motion during the pushup so you can drop your body lower than the standard floor pushup. It is also possible to increase and decrease the intensity of the pushup by altering your hand placement on the pushup bars. The swivel on the rotating pushup bar improves stability and forces the core muscles to work harder during the movement.
Types
Pushup bars are available as either a bar that does not move or a rotating bar with a swivel device. The bar height varies with manufacturers, but most sit approximately 4 to 6 inches off the floor. Both styles of pushup bars allow you to grasp the bar with your hands so your wrist remains straight during the movement. Some pushup bars are available as a set of two short bars, instead of one long bar, giving you the ability to move them to a comfortable distance apart.
Considerations
A pushup is a difficult movement, with or without the use of a pushup bar. The best way to make the pushup bar work for you is to start slowly with the number of pushups you complete and gradually increase the quantity as your strength improves. Consult your physician if you have hand, wrist or arm problems that prevent you from performing the traditional floor pushup. Your physician will be able to tell you whether the pushup bar will work for your condition.
Warning
Using a pushup bar does not make a pushup easier to perform. While the bar alleviates pain in the wrist and hand, you still need strength in your arms and core to lower and raise the body. The pushup bar may make the movement more comfortable, allowing you to perform the movement more frequently to build body strength. Pushup bars will work for people who pay attention to body form during the movement and exercise several times a week to build strength.
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