Perfect Pushup Vs. Regular Pushup

Man doing push-ups

Even a basic exercise like the pushup can benefit from an upgrade. Regular pushups do a decent job of activating most of the upper body, though they place some stress on the wrist. But the Perfect Pushup activates the desired muscles even further, simultaneously removing much of the strain on the joints.

How They Compare

The American Council on Exercise conducted a study using surface electroymyographic analysis for three variations of the pushup: wide, narrow and standard stance. They found the chest, triceps and front part of the shoulders were activated more with the Perfect Pushup than with regular pushups, but only during the wide and standard stances. The narrow stance did not change muscular activation, and the back muscles were utilized with the same efficacy for both. The pivoting handles of the Perfect Pushup do not allow for variations like plyometric or dive-bomb pushups, however.

Tips and Safety

Always observe proper form when doing a pushup, with equipment or without. Though the Perfect Pushup relieves some stress on the wrists, it can prevent a neutral wrist position. If you are new to pushups, the dynamic nature of the device could increase your chances of injury. Try regular pushups first, and when you master those, move on to the Perfect Pushup.

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