Push-upsquestion?

Question

When I do push-ups, am I supposed to feel pressure/pain on my arms or chest? I ask because I know push-ups work your chest but usually its my arms that get tired or hurt sometimes, yet my chest feels normal.

Answer 1

What you may be experiencing is normal. Doing push ups should cause some "pressure" in the arms at first because you are also strengthening your arms. What may be happening is that you are using your arms more than you should. If your arms are about shoulder width apart and your elbow's are "away" from your side...you should feel more pressure in your chest. If your elbow's are next to your side you will feel more in your triceps...

Some variations of the push up might help...

Use 2 chairs (or 2 smaller boxes) under your hands to allow a deeper stretch and to work the lower chest...or put your feet up on a chair or box to work the upper chest...

Changing your hand position will effect a difference in where your chest is being worked...but your arms may need to increase in strength...

Try that and see if you get better results...

Answer 2

Where you hurt after doing push-ups depends on the position of your arms when doing push-ups. If you have your arms pinned to your sides, you will likely be using your triceps more than your chest. If you have your arms out to your sides 2+ feet apart, with hands underneath your elbows, you'll likely be using your chest and back more. You'll typically see men pin their arms to their sides because they have more developed triceps than women. Good luck on your push-ups and don't forget to make a 90 degree angle or less with your elbow to get maximum effect.

Answer 3

Your arms (particularly triceps and shoulders) are always in use when doing push ups, bench press, dumbell press, but they are called secondary. The primary is the chest of course. Sounds like your arms are a little out of shape.. Keep doing them, it will get easier.

Answer 4

You hands should be at about shoulder width but slightly lower than your shoulders.