Pushups are an effective exercise for working your chest, arms, shoulders and core. You can drop and do pushups anywhere, and a multitude of variations make it easy to tailor the exercise to your current capabilities. But pushups aren't perfect, so take the potential downside of this exercise into account before you knuckle down to work out.
Pro: Variations
If you're not yet strong enough to do full pushups, you can elevate your hands on a bench or even the wall to make the exercise easier, or do pushups from your knees. If you're strong enough to do more than a full set of pushups, you can use a weight vest, instability or have a friend hold a weight plate on your shoulders to make the exercise more challenging.
Con: Monotony
Although you can perform nearly endless pushup variations, an exercise is only beneficial if you're willing to do it regularly. If you find doing pushups constantly makes your workouts boring, consider mixing in other chest exercises, such as bench presses or pec flys, for variety. Changing up your workout routine every few weeks also helps keep you from hitting a plateau.
Pro: No Equipment
One of the biggest benefits of pushups is that you don't need any extra equipment to do the basic exercise. Because of this, pushups are an effective exercise if you have limited space or are traveling and don't have access to exercise equipment.
Con: Wrist Pain
The standard pushup position places your wrist in a hyperextended position, which can cause pain or discomfort. One possible solution is using pushup handles to elevate your hands off the floor, allowing you to keep your wrists in a neutral position throughout the exercise.
Pro: Core Workout
The basic "up" pushup position is similar to the plank position you'll find in yoga and general strength training. Maintaining proper body position throughout the pushup forces your core muscles, including your abs and hips, to work constantly at stabilizing your body.
Con: Technique Perils
Allowing your head to sag or letting your belly button or hips sag down toward the floor during pushups can put pressure on your neck and lower back, increasing your risk for injuries. Likewise, doing pushups too fast and with too little control, or lowering too far into the pushup, puts you at increased risk of shoulder injuries.
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