Push-ups are very popular exercises inside and outside the gym, since they allow you to gain muscle mass by lifting only your body weight and without using any instruments. In this sense, it is very important to perform this exercise correctly to avoid injuries.
Believe it or not, when you do push-ups you work more muscles, not just your pecs. Your shoulders, triceps, and even your abs are also activated.
So, we want to mention the most common mistakes that you have to avoid so that you can do this exercise without problems. Let's get started!
Flex or extend the hip
If you flex your hips when doing push-ups, the movement will be much more difficult to perform. This will put more stress on your back and vertebrae, which can cause pain when you exercise. You want to make sure you have good full body alignment to ensure you are lifting your body weight correctly.
Put the elbows at 90 degrees with respect to the shoulders
When you perform push-ups with your elbows at 90 degrees, there is a risk that your shoulders will be injured and you will not be able to exercise while you recover. Experts recommend putting your elbows at a 45-60 degree angle to your shoulders. In fact, this position will help you develop much more strength.
Spread your hands wide apart
It is believed that the further apart you have your hands, the better results you get when doing push-ups. This is completely false.
If you spread your hands too far apart, your shoulder won't be able to move properly and you're likely to injure yourself. On the other hand, the movement you can do will also be reduced, so the gain in muscle mass will be very small.
