Which perfect pushup is better

First, what exactly is The Perfect Pushup? You place the handles on the floor, assume the standard pushup position, then rotate the handles as you push-up. The idea behind this, as the commercial so masculinely puts it, is that the additional rotating motion you subject your body to as you push-up adds a whole other dimension to your workout, a dimension that presumably helps you tone up, etc. Depending on your current strength level—right now, try to do as many pushups as you can, until you collapse in a big, cartoonish heap, to get a sense of your strength level—a guide booklet included in the packaging suggests how many reps your set should include.

Not having lifted a weight since the first Clinton Administration, my strength was such that the kind folks who put together the booklet suggested I begin my adventure with the workout. Skeletal muscle adaptation: training twice every second day vs. Hansen Christian P. Effects of weightlifting vs. May 01, William H. Otto Jared W. Coburn Lee E. Brown Barry A. February American Council on Exercise. National Academy of Sports Medicine. Push the push-up. Researchers had participants perform standard push-ups and Perfect Pushups from three different hand positions: shoulder distance, wide and narrow.

All push-ups were done at the same pace, as dictated by a metronome. After measuring muscle activation using electromyography at the triceps, pectoralis major, serratus anterior and posterior deltoids, it was determined that the Perfect Pushup did not enhance muscular recruitment. Read More: Perfect Pushup vs. Regular Pushup. People who have existing rotator cuff injuries or joint issues should avoid the Perfect Pushup, as it might be too aggressive on the elbows and shoulders.

If you feel the gadget will get you motivated to exercise more, then by all means -- use it. It's not unsafe. This exercise has been proven time after time as an effective means of strengthening and assessing muscular endurance of the upper body. Specifically, the push-up has been shown to activate muscles of the triceps brachii, pectoralis major, serratus anterior, anterior deltoid, and trunk muscles.

So how can the push-up be improved? The Perfect Push-up TM claims to do just that. It claims that the device engages more muscular recruitment and helps reduce joint strain. It has been seen that performing conventional push-ups with a narrow hand placement compared to shoulder width or wide hand placement can alter activation of muscles in a push-up.

Research by Cogley et al. But do these different hand positions cause additional mechanical demands and torque of joints. Research by Donkers 2 found that elbow flexion torque is greatest when the conventional push-up is performed with the hands in a narrow hand position.