PUSHUPS VS. THE BENCH PRESS
- Travis Hansen
- Oct 27
- 1 min read
This comparison was a topic of debate years ago among coaches, parents, and training practitioners. Some advocated one or the other, while others settled for a healthy blend of both. Like most things in life, the answer will ultimately favor the latter and land you somewhere in the middle. Let's quickly look at the benefits of each:
The Pushup:
*Moderate Press Strength potential
*Anterior Core Strength and Stability
*Less force transfer through shoulder
*Scapular mobility
*Total Body Posture learning tool
*Great General Health metric
*Great for upper body endurance, recovery, and de-load phases*Loads of variation
And....
The Bench Press:
*High pressing strength potential
*Scapular and Thoracic Strength
*Mental Toughness
*Shoulder, elbow, and wrist durability
*Isometric back strength
*CNS activation
*Coordination along with hip and leg drive
*Best raw strength test
The Verdict...You should perform and master them both for the best results! As you can clearly see, they both offer tremendous value for anyone. At least 1-2 of the listed benefits will apply to you regardless of your training goals or experience levels.
When it comes to programming training and selecting exercises specifically, pretty much everything you see can have a place, contrary to popular belief. This is exactly why Concurrent ad Conjugate models are so powerful for athletes and fitness enthusiasts alike. The art of proper programming lies in knowing exactly when, where, and how to program the exercises optimally for each individual and their goals.
For more information on training visit the links below:
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