Incline pushups are a great way to target your upper body muscles. They are a variation of traditional pushups that involve elevating your hands on a raised surface such as a bench, box, or step. This modification increases the angle of your body, which puts more emphasis on your chest, shoulders, and triceps.
Chest
The primary muscle worked during incline pushups is your chest or pectoral muscles. The incline angle targets the upper part of your chest, which is difficult to activate with traditional pushups. Incorporating incline pushups into your workout routine can help develop a more defined and toned chest.
Shoulders
Incline pushups also work your shoulders or deltoid muscles. The incline angle places more stress on your anterior deltoids or the front of your shoulders. Strengthening your shoulder muscles can improve your posture and prevent shoulder injuries.
Triceps
Incline pushups engage your triceps or the muscles on the back of your upper arm. The incline angle puts more emphasis on your triceps than traditional pushups, making them an effective exercise for building arm strength and size.
Core
Incline pushups also work your core muscles, including your abs and obliques. Your core muscles help stabilize your body during the exercise and support your upper body as you lower and lift yourself up. Strengthening your core can improve your balance, stability, and posture.
Back
Incline pushups indirectly work your back muscles as well. Your back muscles are used to stabilize your spine and keep your body in a straight line during the exercise. Strengthening your back muscles can improve your posture and prevent back pain.
Variations
There are several variations of incline pushups that you can try to target different muscles and add variety to your workout routine:
- Feet elevated incline pushups: Elevate your feet on a raised surface and perform pushups to target your lower chest and shoulders.
- Single leg incline pushups: Lift one leg off the ground and perform pushups to challenge your balance and engage your core muscles.
- Close grip incline pushups: Place your hands close together on the raised surface to target your triceps and inner chest muscles.
Conclusion
Incline pushups are a versatile exercise that target multiple upper body muscles, including your chest, shoulders, triceps, core, and back. Incorporating incline pushups into your workout routine can help you build strength, size, and definition in your upper body. Try different variations of incline pushups to challenge yourself and add variety to your workouts.