Strength

For someone who cannot do pushups, what strength and resistance exercises would you recommend?

Alternate exercises to build strength for push-ups

For someone who cannot do push-ups, what strength and resistance exercises would you recommend? I would recommend if a push-up is your ultimate goal, there is no substitution for that. There is just modifying it, putting somebody on their knees, having them practice those, using a staircase, working from the fourth step and working your way down. Or you can build up your chest muscles by doing bench pressing with dumbbells. You can use a bench, you can use an assisted machine, the chest press machine at a gym to work towards that goal. But if you are a beginner, I would suggest using resistive bands and light dumbbells and working all of your muscles around that area. So chest presses, shoulders, biceps, triceps, and hopefully the end result is for you to be able to do a real push-up.

If you cannot do push-ups, I recommend modifying the push-up by getting on your knees or using a staircase. You can also build up your chest muscles by doing bench pressing with dumbbells or using resistive bands and light dumbbells to work all of the muscles around that area.

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If you are unable to do push-ups, there are alternative exercises that can help you build strength and resistance. However, it's important to note that if a push-up is your ultimate goal, there is no exact substitute for it. You can modify the exercise by performing push-ups on your knees or using a staircase, starting from a higher step and gradually working your way down.

To develop your chest muscles, you can try bench pressing with dumbbells or using a chest press machine at the gym. These exercises can help you work towards the goal of doing push-ups. 

For beginners, I recommend using resistance bands and light dumbbells to target the muscles around the chest area. This includes exercises like chest presses, shoulder exercises, bicep curls, and tricep exercises. By strengthening these muscle groups, you can work towards eventually being able to perform a regular push-up.

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Monica LaMar is a dedicated Fitness Coach and Personal Trainer with 10+ years of experience. She currently serves as a full-time Fitness Coach and Personal Trainer at BeWell Fitness in Libertyville, IL. Prior to joining BeWell, Monica worked as a Recreation Fitness Specialist at Naval Station Great Lakes. Monica is committed to helping clients achieve their health and wellness goals through tailored exercise programs and personalized training sessions.