Examining upper extremity muscle demand during selected push-up variants

Abstract

Push-ups are regularly adapted for specific muscular demands. The push-up plus (PUP) has been used to emphasize serratus anterior activation. Alterations in body posture have been suggested for targeted activation of muscles surrounding the shoulder and rotator cuff, but little data exists to inform these changes. The purpose of this research was to examine upper extremity muscle activity changes when varying aspects of the PUP. Healthy male participants (n = 20) performed PUP trials using combinations of hand contact area (knuckles/palms), humeral rotation (neutral/60° internal/60° external) and hand location (shoulder height/±30% arm length superior/inferior) at a fixed cadence. Electromyographic (EMG) activation from 14 muscles of the right upper extremity during each trial were examined, as well as ratios of activation for 7 muscle pairs. Palm contact and a superior hand location increased serratus activation, but absolute EMG changes between these effects were marginal (standard error = 3.8). Each independent variable altered mean EMG for most muscles as a main effect, with the largest changes in infraspinatus, upper and lower trapezius, and anterior deltoid. Altering the standard PUP does not seem to enhance serratus activation, but diverse responses in other muscles have training implications. These changes in muscle strategies can tailor the use of modified PUP exercises to target individual muscles or groups.

Keywords: Electromyography; Exercise; Push-up plus; Rehabilitation; Rotation.