Benefits of Pike Push-Ups for Arms and Shoulders

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Of all the issues to recollect when doing a correct push-up, the requirement to maintain your physique in a straight line all through the transfer is a biggie. Sticking your butt up into the air completely is not allowed, buster. Besides there’s one push-up variation—the pike push-up— that permits you to toss that rule proper out the window.

When folks stick their butt within the air throughout a push-up, it is usually in an try to make the train simpler. That is not good in your shoulders, and means you are not correctly partaking your entire core muscle groups. However in a pike push-up, you have got permission to do precisely that… which is definitely turning issues up a notch. Pike push-ups are extremely difficult, and so they require rather a lot of upper-body energy to drag off accurately.

Bear in mind, a pike push-up is only one of many push-up choices, from straightforward to arduous variations. Be sure to decide on the one which fits your health degree and the precise muscle groups you are making an attempt to work.

What’s the distinction between a push-up and a pike push-up?

The truth that you stick your butt within the air throughout a pike push-up is only the start of the distinction, as a result of that change of kind causes plenty of different variations between the 2 strengthening workouts.

“All variations of push-ups are extraordinarily efficient physique weight actions that work a number of muscle teams within the physique,” says Laura Lee Crabbe, licensed private coach and nutritionist at Caliber. “The distinction between a pike push up and a daily push up is the orientation of your physique. For normal push ups, you’ll keep a flat again that’s parallel to the bottom, very like the usual plank place. For pike push ups, your hips shall be upright, forming an the wrong way up v place along with your physique. Your head will frivolously contact the ground as you carry your arms down. On this place there may be extra of an emphasis on working your arms and shoulders, whereas common push ups work extra of the chest & core. Pike push ups are additionally nice to include into your coaching if you’re working your approach as much as performing headstands.

Here is find out how to do a regular push-up:



As an alternative of beginning in plank, a pike push-up begins in a downward canine place. Then when you’re secure, you bend your elbows and full an angled push-up, all whereas holding your physique in an inverted V-shape for the final word problem. As soon as your head is hovering proper above the ground, you end the push-up by utilizing all of your energy to straighten your arms and return again to the downward canine place. It is something however straightforward.

Are pike push-ups more durable than regular push-ups?

Pike push-ups are a extra superior variation of a push-up, and so they work completely different muscle groups.

“It’s probably not a matter of which push up variation is healthier than the opposite, however reasonably which muscle groups you wish to give attention to,” Crabbe says.

However typically, pike push-ups are thought of tougher than normal push-ups.

“Push ups alone are a tough transfer, and I do suppose common push up kind ought to be mastered earlier than transferring into different variations, together with the pike push ups,” Crabbe says. “You’ll wish to guarantee that you’ve got a robust core, and shouldn’t have any accidents along with your shoulders earlier than making an attempt pike-push ups. If you happen to usually carry out push ups and your physique has tailored to that problem degree (which means it’s a must to proceed to extend the repetitions to make them tougher), pike push ups are an important train to modify issues up.”

What muscle groups do pike push-ups goal?

Common push-ups work your shoulders, chest, triceps, core—which incorporates the glutes and the posterior chain. Slightly than distributing that load throughout the plank of your physique, pike push-ups shift shift plenty of that load ahead into your arms and shoulders.

“Pike push-ups interact your deltoids, chest, triceps, biceps, higher trapezius, and core,” Crabbe says. “They’re a compound motion, which means they work a number of muscle teams on the identical time. If you’re wanting a transfer that works your complete higher physique that you are able to do from wherever, pike push ups are it!” 

The way to do a pike push-up the suitable approach



  1. Begin in a downward canine place with straight legs and arms.
  2. Together with your head according to your arms and heels barely raised off the bottom, slowly bend your elbows as you decrease your higher physique right into a push-up. Be sure to maintain your legs as straight as you possibly can.
  3. As soon as your head is barely hovering above the bottom, straighten your arms and push your self again as much as a downward canine place.
  4. Full 12 reps.

The way to work as much as a pike push-up for freshmen

A pike push-up primarily combines two strikes, the downward canine and the push-up. You’ll want to grasp each of those elements earlier than making an attempt to place all of it collectively for a one-two punch. Getting there may contain making an attempt a sequence of variations earlier than you possibly can execute the entire transfer.

“You’ll be able to work on a sequence of push-up progressions with a view to get to the pike push-up,” Crabbe says. “If you’re a newbie, begin with push-ups from knees, then progress to common push-ups. As soon as these turn into snug, strive a modified pike push-up, the place your knees are barely bent as you elevate your hips up, reasonably than fully straight. Subsequent, strive a pike push-up, however place yoga blocks beneath your fingers to offer additional assist. You can even strive a decline pike push-up, the place you place your ft on a chair or elevated floor. Observe these progressions over the course of a number of weeks and also you’ll be on our strategy to finishing your first pike push up!”

The way to execute a pike push-up with good kind

Since that is a sophisticated variation, it may be tempting to hurry the transfer or use imperfect kind to compensate for a problem. Listed below are kind ideas and pitfalls to keep away from when doing pike push-ups.

Transfer slowly and with management

“Performing pike push ups too rapidly might result in you utilizing your physique’s momentum to finish the reps, which in flip results in not reaching the complete vary of movement for this transfer,” Crabbe says.

Preserve your elbows near your physique

“Be sure your elbows don’t flare out to the aspect as you carry your head and arms ahead,” Crabbe says. “Conserving your elbows tucked near your physique will be sure that the emphasis of this transfer is positioned in your shoulders.”

Have interaction your core

Identical to in a daily push-up, you need your physique to keep up a constant place with none stress going into again. That includes getting the core concerned. Participating your core “will assist preserve your hips within the air and keep away from any rounding of the again or pelvis,” Crabbe says.

Foot and hand width matter

You need your ft and fingers to kind a robust basis in your physique because it strikes up in down within the pike push-up. This includes holding your ft wider than shoulder width aside, and your fingers shoulder width aside and beneath your shoulders. This place is all about stability, and ensuring you are partaking the suitable muscle groups.  “Conserving the ft too shut collectively can result in much less steadiness and stability, and putting your fingers too distant out of your physique takes the emphasis away out of your deltoids,” Crabbe says

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