Effect of Medial-Lateral, Inferior-Superior, and Rotational Positions of Palms on Muscle Recruitment during the Push-Up Exercise

The goal of the present article is to compare neuromuscular activation patterns among medial-lateral, superior-inferior, and rotational positions of palms for 14 selective muscles during the push-up exercise. Muscle activity and kinematics information of fifteen males (68.35 +/- 7.18 kg, 175 +/- 3.40 cm, 24.50 +/- 7.50 years) were recorded by Myon Electromyographic (EMG) system and Vicon motion capture, respectively. EMG activity in the anterior deltoid, middle deltoid, posterior deltoid, infraspinatus, upper pectoralis major, middle pectoralis major, lower pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, triceps lateral, triceps medial, biceps brachii, upper trapezius, middle trapezius, and lower trapezius was measured. According to the results, the narrow position of palms increased the infraspinatus, upper pectoralis major, triceps brachii (lateral and medial head), middle trapezius, and lower trapezius muscles, while the wide position of palms enhanced the lower pectoralis major muscle. Superior positions of palms enhanced the upper trapezius, while the inferior positions of palms increased the anterior deltoid, posterior deltoid, infraspinatus, biceps brachii, middle trapezius, lower trapezius, and pectoralis major (lower, middle, and upper) muscles. Internal positions of the palms increased all pectoralis major muscles (lower, middle, and upper), while external positions (lower, middle, and upper) enhanced the middle deltoid, latissimus dorsi, biceps brachii, middle trapezius, and lower trapezius muscles. The information about muscle activation during various types of push-ups can potentially help athletes, coaches, personal trainers, and clinicians to apply modified push-up exercises to make new systematic and useful exercise plans.

Automated summary

This study compared neuromuscular activation patterns of 14 selective muscles during push-ups with different palm positions, finding that different positions enhanced activation of different muscles, which can assist athletes and coaches in designing more effective exercise plans.