The Effect of Position on the Percentage of Body Mass Supported During Traditional and Modified Push-up Variants

Suprak, David N.; Dawes, Jay; Stephenson, Mark

doi:10.1519/jsc.0b013e3181bde2cf

Cited by 51 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…The EMG activity and right elbow angle of a participant exemplify this pattern (Figure 2). These data support the findings of Suprak et al, 3 who recorded a greater percentage of body mass supported by the hands in the down position versus the up position.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…3 The analysis of a large sample of muscle and handposition variants resulted in useful information on the effort required for each of the push-up variants. If the aim of the athlete is to focus on the pectoralis and triceps muscles, the NB is preferred.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The traditional push-up required support of a larger percentage of body mass than the modified push-up, and the down static position required more support of body mass than the up position. 3 Garcia-Masso et al 4 described vertical reaction force and muscle activation during different plyometric push-ups, providing data that contributed to a more correct and effective prescription. Previous authors 5 also focused on the effect that unstable surfaces could have on muscle activity.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Selective Activation of Shoulder, Trunk, and Arm Muscles: A Comparative Analysis of Different Push-Up Variants

Marcolin¹,

Petrone

Moro³

et al. 2015

Journal of Athletic Training

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Context: The push-up is a widely used exercise for upper limb strengthening that can be performed with many variants. A comprehensive analysis of muscle activation during the ascendant phase (AP) and descendant phase (DP) in different variants could be useful for trainers and rehabilitators.Objective: To obtain information on the effect of different push-up variants on the electromyography (EMG) of a large sample of upper limb muscles and to investigate the role of the trunk and abdomen muscles during the AP and DP.Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: University laboratory.Patients or Other Participants: Eight healthy, young volunteers without a history of upper extremity or spine injury.Intervention(s): Participants performed a set of 10 repetitions for each push-up variant: standard, wide, narrow, forward (FP), and backward (BP). Surface EMG of 12 selected muscles and kinematics data were synchronously recorded to describe the AP and DP.Main Outcome Measure(s): Mean EMG activity of the following muscles was analyzed: serratus anterior, deltoideus anterior, erector spinae, latissimus dorsi, rectus abdominis, triceps brachii caput longus, triceps brachii caput lateralis, obliquus externus abdominis, pectoralis major sternal head, pectoralis major clavicular head, trapezius transversalis, and biceps brachii.Results: The triceps brachii and pectoralis major exhibited greater activation during the narrow-base variant. The highest activation of abdomen and back muscles was recorded for the FP and BP variants. The DP demonstrated the least electrical activity across all muscles, with less marked differences for the abdominal and erector spinae muscles because of their role as stabilizers.Conclusions: Based on these findings, we suggest the narrow-base variant to emphasize triceps and pectoralis activity and the BP variant for total upper body strength conditioning. The FP and BP variants should be implemented carefully in participants with low back pain because of the greater activation of abdominal and back muscles.Key Words: fitness, training, kinesiology, rehabilitation Key PointsDuring the push-up exercise, hand position can influence the electromyographic activity of different muscles. A narrow hand position (hands together with the right thumb and forefinger touching the left thumb and forefinger below the center of the sternum) elicited greater activation for both the triceps brachii and pectoralis major muscles. Changing the position of the hands forward or backward can increase the electromyographic activity of the abdominal and back muscles.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Selective Activation of Shoulder, Trunk, and Arm Muscles: A Comparative Analysis of Different Push-Up Variants

Marcolin¹,

Petrone

Moro³

et al. 2015

Journal of Athletic Training

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“…11,16,17 Authors 8,11,14 have consistently reported that agonist muscle activation increases with the intensity of the exercise variant. However, the activation levels of the serratus anterior and upper trapezius, the primary scapular stabilizers, across push-up variants appear to depend on hand position and joint angles during the movement (resulting from changing muscle lengths and moment arms) as well as the support surface used.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…9,12,15,18 Also, activation levels of the scapularstabilizer muscles during the many push-up variants may depend on a complex interplay between the weight-bearing demand of the exercise and the degree of arm elevation. 17 Considering the importance of scapular positioning during strengthening and rehabilitation exercises and the attention paid to corresponding activation levels of the scapular stabilizers in the literature, it is surprising that few investigators have examined scapular kinematics during push-up variants. In the only other study of scapular kinematics during a push-up exercise, Lunden et al 19 reported that, during a push-up with a plus performed against a wall, the scapula began the concentric phase in internal rotation, UR, and anterior tilt and exhibited increasing internal rotation and decreasing UR, with no significant change in PT through the plus phase.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Scapular Kinematics and Shoulder Elevation in a Traditional Push-Up

Suprak

Bohannon

Morales

et al. 2013

Journal of Athletic Training

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Context: Proper scapulothoracic motion is critical for the health and function of the shoulder and represents a principal focus in the rehabilitation setting. Variants of the traditional push-up are used frequently to help restore proper scapular kinematics. To date, substantial research has focused on muscle activation levels of rotator cuff and scapular-stabilizing musculature, whereas a dearth of literature exists regarding scapular kinematics during push-up variants.Objective: To examine the effect of shoulder position on scapular kinematics across the range of motion (ROM) of a traditional push-up.Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: University laboratory.Patients or Other Participants: Sixteen healthy participants without a history of upper extremity or spine injury requiring rehabilitation or surgery.Intervention(s): Participants performed a traditional pushup while kinematic measurements were acquired from multiple upper extremity segments. The 3 shoulder position conditions were (1) self-selected position, (2) shoulder adducted upon ascent (at side), and (3) shoulder elevated to approximately 908.Main Outcome Measure(s): Scapular posterior tilt, upward rotation, and external rotation were examined across elbowextension ROM and compared across conditions.Results: Posterior tilt was greater in the self-selected and at-side conditions than in the elevated condition and increased linearly with elbow extension. External rotation was greater in the self-selected and at-side conditions compared with that in the elevated condition. In the at-side condition, upward rotation began lower than in the other conditions at the start of the concentric phase but increased above the others soon after the elbow started to extend.Conclusions: Performing a traditional push-up with the shoulders elevated may place the scapula in a position of impingement. Clinicians should be cognizant of shoulder elevation when prescribing and monitoring exercise progression. The results of this study will provide further direction for clinicians in prescribing rehabilitation exercises for the upper extremity, especially closed chain exercises for shoulder conditions.Key Words: closed kinetic chain exercises, impingement, rehabilitation Key PointsDuring a traditional push-up, scapular posterior tilt and external rotation decreased with greater shoulder elevation, and posterior tilt increased with elbow extension. Scapular upward rotation was greater for much of the range of motion with the shoulder in a position of less elevation. Increased shoulder elevation during a traditional push-up may contribute to impingement.

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