Can't Do Push ups? Try These 2 Tips

Can't Do Push Ups? Try These 2 Tips

Push ups are one of those moves that everyone thinks they are entitled to do from their toes, yet so few of us do them correctly.

Push ups are not only a challenging chest, shoulders and tricep exercise... byt they require more scapular mobility and stability than we realize.

The push up is essentially a moving plank!

That’s why I want to break down the one are you might need to focus on to improve your push ups. If you can't do pushups try these 2 tips!

[bdrienne]

Before menopause, I was able to do push ups from my toes - and good form - with little trouble. A few years post, and it's a huge struggle. This video was so enlightening. Thank you!

[BipolarCourage]

I can only do knee pushups at this stage but it definitely uses my upper back

[RH-jdft]

Love the way you explain in detail the exercises. I am pushing 68 and long time runner, always struggled with pushups. Going to start over and try again! Greetings from Florida!

[BEARTHEWEIGHT]

Last June I started doing push-ups from my kitchen counter! Then the bench, then floor and now I'm doing them on my toes! I use push ups as a warm up excercise for my light upper body days. Great video!

[ianburrows]

I was doing pushups exactly as you described. Then I started doing the 'arrow' way, first inclined and then slowly erasing the incline. I couldn't believe the difference in muscle tone and strength when doing them properly. I was also doing rehab on a shoulder and combined my new pushup method with the stretches you recommended in the rotator cuff video. Incredible difference after only a few days!! Thank you Cory!!!!

[mrsbootsworkouts]

I pulled something in my shoulder when I got too enthusiastic about doing a lot of pushups. I am not sure if I was not warmed up enough, or maybe it was overuse injury. It took months for my shoulder to stop feeling weird when working out, but now I wans to do pushups properly. Thank you so much for this piece of information!! You are a machine, and if you felt you need to regress, what about the rest of us??? Love your videos!!!

[hudnix]

I'm in my 50s and didn't think I needed any help with my pushups. The instant I tried this technique I could feel the difference. You're absolutely right. This is probably why I frequently get rotator cuff problems when I do too many pushups. Thanks!

[suhasalameh]

Thank you! No matter how much I workout, my pushups makes me always feel frustrated! Thats just perfect! No one ever talked about supporting movements to reach a good push ups!

[eliza]

This was so illuminating!
I'm in my 60s and had been struggling with push-ups for quite a while, even though I do lots of weight training and have great upper body strength.
Only recently did I start to 'get' it, but having watched this, I realize that I've been starting to do just what Cori is recommending, i.e focusing on shoulder strength and pushing shoulder blades together. I had also been doing a lot of planks and dolphin to pushup movements.
I just wish I'd seen this a couple of years ago - it would have saved me a lot of trial and error.

[marskeelove]

I don't trust many YouTubers but you are always very helpful and I love the information you provide

[LisaRobson]

Thank you for this video, there are so many people out there that says do push ups but don't explain the HOW to do the push up first to prevent injury and get the correct form. I'm glad this video came up in the suggestions and you've got yourself another subscriber too!

[samday]

Hi Cory,
I’m coming from the other direction (so to speak) as a landscaper with strong back muscles who started yoga (particularly Ashtanga) to address poor stomach muscles, to protect my back.
In Ashtanga yoga we do a lot of push up like moves (chutterunga) and we are told to keep our elbows brushing our chest (close in, not flared) and often told not to dip so low that our upper arms dip lower than our elbows (less than 90 degrees).
I’ve found I’m developing shoulder pain a day after yoga and realised my elbows are not close to my body.
Also, I’ve had to on several occasions, let go of ego and regress to a very simple modification (picture an apparently strong looking male in a mostly flexible looking female class. - looks can be deceiving!)
Addressing form over difficulty was so beneficial! And I’ve noticed with many exercises (yoga or free weights) that correct form is much more difficult, but far better.
I’m just interested in your thoughts on having your elbows tucked close to your body, and stopping the pushup at 90 degree arms.

[hommy]

Rotator cuff tear and broken hand/wrist later...I feel motivated to get back to something I used to thoroughly enjoy! Thank you for the inspiration and knowledge!!

[NC-qcwd]

This is the second episode I watched and I am in. I am 60 years old, just last week I turned 60, and everything you said it's true and I am been training since I was 22 years old. So, I need this type of encouragement and feel good about myself.

[chelybeann]

Recently decided I need to learn how to get the basics of exercise down first. I can work the gym equipment but can’t do a good push up or have bad form and stability in a squat/lunge. Looks like the channel may be a step in the right direction. Thanks! ❤

[CeeBeeMD]

This woman is soooo good. I finally began to “get” (understand) the push-up. Thank you so VERY much.

[mathewklock]

My favorite was the bench scapular modification 👍🏽👍🏽

[headtubepunk]

Best fitness trainer online! Love and huge respect for everything you do!

[theresadugwell]

You are fantastic at giving clear concise and simple instructions! I'm going to start working on my push-ups! Thank you!

[skyscope]

Great explanation. The 2nd pose sequence is something I often do during yoga warm-up for handstand and backbend.