PUSHUPS VS PULLUPS

[gio]

I would like to know your opinion on these two exercises because I have been doing pushups for ages,but the only visible result is that my shoulders are now leaning forward and my lower back and belly sag...on the other hand I have heard that pullups are far safer because they actually make your spine stand straighter and they make more muscles work.Since it's widely known that pushups are very popular in the Legion,I would like to know any opinions.Tx.

[deep_recon]

only training one muscle group (like only push-ups) is not good for you, as it creates imbalances. if you only train with your own body weight, try to throw in more exercises. push-ups, pull-ups, dips and sit-ups are good because it increases your endurance but try to add some more exercises.

[gio]

Thanks,I will add pullups,because I've told they exactly balance pushups.

[Charles Lovelace]

Best of all is Egyptian PT with plenty of zizz and kipping !

[Chris]

If your belly sags following press ups endeavour to keep your body straight as you do your press ups. Also try press ups with arms wide apart, shoulder width apart, and hands crossed. Also roll the sit ups forward and backwards. As for pull ups there are variations to be had with over hand and over hand grip as well as wide grip.

[wayne]

giorgio

When you do a press up the main muscles you use are your pectoral muscles, your anterior deltoid and your triceps. I suspect the main reason your shoulders are stooped is because you haven’t been doing enough exercises that work the antagonists (the opposite muscles) to the ones I have listed above.

Stooped shoulders are fairly common amongst people that excessively train their chest muscles by doing lots of bench press without doing any exercises to strengthen their back.

When you do a pull up the main muscle you use is the latissimus dorsi, although amongst others you also use your deltoids and your pectoralis minor. As you can see, you are using your deltoids and your pectoralis minor as synergists (i.e. muscles that help and assist the main muscle to perform the exercise) rather than antagonists.

To effectively balance out your stooped shoulders I would suggest you do exercises such as reverse flies, seated rows, and T-bar rows to strengthen up your posterior deltoid and your rhomboids. A strong back will pull your shoulders and your chest back into the correct position.

[gio]

Thanks everyone,I find your answer really helpful.

[Mise]

When in doubt, DO BOTH

[joette]

My husband does those push ups once in awhile.. :p