title: Comparison of muscle-activation patterns during the conventional push-up and perfect· pushup™ exercises.
abstract: Manufacturers of Perfect·Pushup™ handgrips claim enhanced muscular recruitment when compared with the conventional hand-on-floor push-up exercise. Electromyographic (EMG) data were recorded using surface electrodes from the right-sided triceps brachii, pectoralis major, serratus anterior (SA), and posterior deltoid muscles during push-ups performed from 3 different hand positions: (a) shoulder width, (b) wide base, and (c) narrow base (NB). Push-ups were performed under 2 conditions: (a) standard push-up and (b) Perfect·Pushup™ handgrips. We recruited 20 healthy subjects, 11 men (24.9 ± 2.6 years) and 9 women (23.8 ± 1 years). Subjects completed 3 consecutive push-ups for each hand position under both conditions. Push-up speed was controlled using a metronome, and testing order was randomized. We recorded peak EMG activity for each muscle during each of the push-ups and normalized EMG values by maximum muscle contractions (% maximum voluntary isometric contraction [MVIC]). Electromyographic data were analyzed with 3 (hand position) × 2 (condition) repeated-measures analysis of variance with a post hoc Bonferroni-adjusted simple effects test to detect significant position effects for position by condition interactions (α = 0.05). A push-up required considerable muscle activation of the triceps brachii (73-109% MVIC), pectoralis major (95-105% MVIC), SA (67-87% MVIC), and posterior deltoid (11-21% MVIC) whether performed using the conventional hand-on-floor position or the Perfect·Pushup™ handgrips. The NB hand position was most effective for preferentially activating the triceps brachii and posterior deltoid muscles. Based upon EMG activation from 4 muscles, the Perfect·Pushup™ handgrips do not appear to preferentially enhance muscular recruitment when compared with the conventional push-up method.
authors.affiliation: Program in Physical Therapy, Mayo School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA. youdas.james@mayo.edu
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Youdas
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Budach
authors.forename: Jay V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Ellerbusch
authors.forename: Craig M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Stucky
authors.forename: Kevin R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Wait
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hollman
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology; D004576:Electromyography; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D012782:Shoulder / Q000502:physiology; D013909:Thorax / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult