The pecs, being fan-shaped muscles, work in a variety of different angles of movement. To get maximum development, you need to change the angle of the arms at the shoulder.
To accomplish this, you can either change the angle of the bench that you're doing presses with, or you can change your body position with push-ups.
This variation of the push-up will have you changing body position during each rep of the exercise.
It's reminiscent of Hindu Push-Ups in terms of how it looks, but the effect is primarily on the upper chest.
You CAN do this one with your hands on the ground, however I prefer a foam roller because it helps keep your face from getting in the way of the exercise.
If your hands aren't elevated, you have to flatten your body to get your chest down into the bottom position. This takes loading off the upper chest.
Set your feet up on a flat bench and your hands on a foam roller with a false grip. If you wrap your thumbs around it, that will internally rotate your shoulders into a compromised position.
Now push yourself up.
As you near the top of the push-up, start to bend at the hips.
You'll be changing the angle of your arms at the shoulder, raising your arms overhead essentially, so that you end up in a pike position at the top.
This involves a wider spectrum of muscle fibers in the upper pecs during the exercise.
Do these in a controlled manner, really trying to feel the chest working as you do the push-ups.
Upper Chest Bench Clench Push-Ups are another great exercise for targeting the upper pecs.
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