Wiki/Exercises/Press Up

Press Up

chestbodyweight
Anatomical illustration of the pectoralis major muscle of the chest
Anatomical illustration of the pectoralis major muscle of the chest. Illustration by DrJanaOfficial, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Primary muscle

chest

Equipment

bodyweight

Secondary muscles

shoulders, triceps, core

How to perform

Set your hands slightly wider than shoulder width, directly under your chest. Brace your core and squeeze your glutes so your body forms a straight line from head to heels. Lower until your chest is just above the floor, elbows at roughly 45 degrees. Press back up without letting your hips sag or pike. To make it harder, elevate your feet. To make it easier, elevate your hands on a bench. Common mistakes: sagging hips, flaring elbows to 90 degrees, and partial range of motion.