Pushup position question [Archive] - BodyWeightCulture.com - Free Body Weight Exercises for muscle gain, weight loss and more
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pilsung_corea
Sep 18, 2006, 11:28 PM
Is there a difference when you spread your legs instead of keeping them together when doing pushups?

I heard in the military they don't let you spread your legs and do pushups.

BWC video seems that most of the guys on the video are doing pushups with legs spread/apart. Thanks in Advance
cheesedog
Sep 19, 2006, 01:59 AM
Spreading your legs makes it easier to balance. It also changes your center of gravity so a little less weight is on your hands. You can test this by putting your hands on a bathroom scale and getting in a legs together and legs spread position. It makes a 10.5 pound difference for me.
pilsung_corea
Sep 19, 2006, 11:43 PM
Spreading your legs makes it easier to balance. It also changes your center of gravity so a little less weight is on your hands. You can test this by putting your hands on a bathroom scale and getting in a legs together and legs spread position. It makes a 10.5 pound difference for me.

Does spreading your legs take anything away from gaining the maximum benefit from doing pushups? or do you get the same benefits as keeping your legs together?
eldus
Sep 20, 2006, 12:02 AM
Mmmh, in my humble opinion I'd say it's better to do them with legs together. Simply because it's more challenging, and I like to base my excersises on max effort I can handle.

I just tried pushups both ways and found that I'm hitting the same muscles so I find legs together to be better.

:)
dreameater
Sep 20, 2006, 01:24 AM
the center of gravity does change with legs open... really the only pushup I find a benefit from doing with my legs spread is the diamond pushup, it seems to 'pinch' harder. I just started doing them that way a few weeks ago after I read the suggestion in one of the books I was reading. It seems to work my chest more than my arms.
cheesedog
Sep 20, 2006, 01:32 AM
The only reasons I can think of to make them a little easier would be either to do more reps so as to work your endurance more or to make it easier because it's a hard version for you to do. Like if one arm pushups are still very hard for you start doing them with legs wide and as you get stronger bring your legs in closer.

Cheesedog