Importance of the Push-Up
Posted on Mar 27, 2008 under Cross-Training, Health, Information, Training, Weight Training |What is the best test of fitness? Running a mile all out? Running a 400? Or is it maxing out on the bench? Maybe even sprinting a 40. Or your vertical leap?
I would never claim that a push-up is the best test of someone’s fitness. But I’m just a dude sitting in Minnesota, what do I know?
The New York Times claims that:
The push-up is the ultimate barometer of fitness. It tests the whole body, engaging muscle groups in the arms, chest, abdomen, hips and legs. It requires the body to be taut like a plank with toes and palms on the floor. The act of lifting and lowering one’s entire weight is taxing even for the very fit.
I agree push-ups can be difficult but come on, surely there is something else we can use to judge fitness levels.
But many people simply can’t do push-ups. Health and fitness experts, including the American College of Sports Medicine, have urged more focus on upper-body fitness. The aerobics movement has emphasized cardiovascular fitness but has also shifted attention from strength training exercises.
I would agree with that. I think on any given day I can easily whip out 15 push-ups (without a break) no problem! What about you?
March 27th, 2008 at 8:47 am
I hate pushups, but they are important. There is no way a single test will be a good measure of fitness. A good five part test can be found here:
http://www.nordicskiracer.com/cgi-bin/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=1751%20
1) 3000m run
2) Pushups
3) Dips
4) Sit-ups
5) Pull-ups
March 27th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Noel »
Thanks for the link. I agree push-ups aren’t very fun, but nothing on that list of measuring fitness sounds like fun to me except the 3000m!
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