press ups.

[crowdpleeser]

what is the safest way to do press ups because my back seems to sag quite painfully after I do about ten.

[froggequene]

Are you doing full press-ups or girly press-ups (with your knees on the floor)? You may need to build up your strength but the important thing when doing press-ups is to hold in your stomach to support your back. Have someone watch you while you do them so that they can tell you what you're doing wrong, if you're going wrong.

[seaoil]

If you space your feet quite wide apart too this helps to keep your whole posture more straight and therefore should keep your back from sagging.

[Lennon]

You can get press up bars from Argos (not that expensive). My boyfriend got them and although they make it slightly harder at first, apparently they are better for your back as they distribute the weight etc, but everyone's different. I was also told once to try and do them at an angle, like tilt your body at about 45 degrees and put your hands on a desk or something. That might ease it a bit for you.

[froggequene]

I was led to believe that those grip bars were for more advanced exercisers looking for a greater stretch and contraction across the pectoral muscles but I agree with Lennon's idea about different angles and tilts.

[gazzawazza]

Crowdpleeser, press-ups are a very difficult exercise to do especially if you aren't used to doing them, and holding your body straight is a very important part of doing it right.

If you are having difficulty it's probably because you're pushing yourself too hard. You need to imagine that your body is a rod of steel and let your arms and shoulders do the work of lowering and raising your weight, although I agree completely with Lennon's suggestion of doing it at an angle on a sturdy desk or bench of some sort. This will help you get the hang of it until you can perform full press-ups.

Don't try to rush into doing full press-ups, concentrate on getting the technique right first before trying to raise your whole weight.

[kalel1975]

gazzawazza is totally correct! It sounds like your back is sagging because you are not doing the movement correctly, or your body is trying to cheat, making the movement feel awkward. The basic muscles involved are your chest, front deltoids (shoulders) and tricepts(the big muscle on the back of your arm). Have a think about which part of the movement is the hardest.If it is harder when your head is nearer the floor (arms bent the most) you need to concentrate more work on your chest. Your tricepts won't cut in 'till later on in the movement. Keep at it and your body will improve. Don't do it everyday though. Let your body repair or stop aching before you attempt it again. Good luck. Soon you'll be doing wide and narrow grip press ups with someone on your back!

[crowdpleeser]

hey guys thanks! I took all of your advice....I think I was over doing it a little. I adjusted how I do press ups and now my back doesn't sag.