Deficit push up

Muscles worked: Shoulders, Upper arms
ShouldersUpper arms
🔧 no equipment ↕ Push 🔁 reps Difficulty:

Muscle outlines from Body Muscles by Ivan Vulović, Apache 2.0 — regrouped and recoloured for Muscle Train.

How to perform

Lower chest to the floor between platforms, keeping elbows at a 45-degree angle. Engage your core and glutes, maintaining a straight body line. Pause briefly at the bottom, then powerfully extend your arms back to the starting position, squeezing your shoulder blades together.

Muscles Worked

Anterior DeltsLateral HeadMedial Head
Secondary: Rectus Abdominis

Tips

Maintain a rigid plank-like body position throughout the movement to protect your lower back and ensure stability. Focus on tucking your elbows at a 45-degree angle to your torso to minimize shoulder stress and maximize chest engagement. Drive forcefully through your palms as you press upwards, ensuring your arm extension is powerful and complete. Squeeze your glutes tightly throughout the exercise to stabilize your hips and prevent excessive arching in your lower back. Aim to lower your chest below your hands to achieve a full range of motion and maximize chest muscle activation. Consciously maintain a neutral spine throughout the exercise, avoiding rounding or excessive arching to prevent injury and optimize form.

Similar exercises

Deficit handstand push up Shoulders · 🔧 no equipment 10/10 Push up Chest, Upper arms · 🔧 no equipment 3/10 Lateral push up Chest, Shoulders, Upper arms · 🔧 no equipment 4/10 Decline push up Upper arms, Chest, Shoulders · 🔧 no equipment 4/10 Incline push up Upper arms, Chest · 🔧 no equipment 2/10
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