Push-up, The Most Useless Exercise?
Posted on | March 4, 2009 | 4 Comments
What is the most useless exercise?
The topic originally came up three years ago while discussing function of various exercises with Geoff Gluckman (my mentor in anything that has to do with muscle balance and function).
The outcome of that discussion was that regular push-ups, and bench press exercises are useless.
[??? no way!]
Someone much wiser than myself, once said “The only time bench press is useful is if one has a really heavy spouse that that they need to lift off of them in order to go to sleep…”
There is truth to that statement.
Bench press is a bodybuilding exercise designed to make chest muscles bigger and I’m not quite sure how it became the staple of upper body strength (somebody was smoking something that day..).
Here is a radical thought of the day for you – you don’t need bench press.
From pure functionality standpoint, when was the last time you pressed anything away from you chest other then doing bench press at a gym? I’ll give you few minutes here, so take your time…
Unless you do have a heavy spouse with tendency to fall asleep on top of you, I’m afraid that you will find bench press movement of no use to you whatsoever.
[What about martial arts? Punching? Doesn't bench press and push ups help make the punch stronger?]
If you ask any black belt, you will learn that energy for punching is generated by whole body. Hips, legs, back – everything is involved. (If you’ve been boxing or punching things consistently perhaps you can share your opinion of chest involvement in punching). As far as my analysis goes, bench press/push up combo is useless when it comes to punching.
Here is the real deal with chest muscles (Pectoralis major muscle):
Our chest muscles are primarily postural muscles.
[???]
Postural muscle is a type of muscle that does not change length despite forces and tensions acting upon it. In other words our chest muscles are there to help us maintain proper posture and balance.
Here is the real kicker – you don’t need to work your pecks (chest muscle) because these muscles are already always on.
Whether you like it or not, your chest muscles are working while you:
- sit
- stand
- walk
- jog
- move
The moral of the story? Leave your chest muscles alone and focus on your back (Read Russian Kettlebells, Physical Education, Back Strength and Injuries) It needs it.
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4 Responses to “Push-up, The Most Useless Exercise?”
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March 5th, 2009 @ 5:35 am
Chest Pressing is useless …I agree 100%!
When in REAL-LIFE will you ever find yourself on your back and need to press weight off of you? Some of the stongest animal on the planet are Gorillas -scientists estimate they can lift over 4,000 lbs -yet the smallest skeletal muscles are there pectorals (chest) and Biceps -because from a functional perspective they are more or less useless. Try a flip, clean or snatch with a kettlebell 88 lbs or heavier -see if a big chest or big biceps help …
June 4th, 2009 @ 4:19 pm
some ppl use these workouts to look good, they dont care about daily functions really. keep that in mind
December 10th, 2009 @ 2:57 am
I’m not 100% sure on that… I am a swimmer and I have noticed that having a “fit” or “athletic” chest helps ALOT, but not by itself, all the muscles play their role and to completely neglect them could cause pains in your upper body. I knew a guy that had really strong triceps and weaker biceps and it gave him elbow problems… I’m not saying anyone is wrong here though, just offering my opinion and how my chest helps me
January 27th, 2010 @ 3:42 am
bench-pressing is useless. it will make ur chest bigger and it will make you heavier, more clumsy, and less flexible.
one thing good about the bench-press is that, it will make ur muscles bigger which will give u extra-protection.
but the disadvantages outweigh that.