Activity of shoulder girdle muscles during the perfect push-up and push-up bar exercises using different hand positions in young overhead athletes

Abstract

Push-up is considered as an excellent exercise for both assessment and training in athletes. However, the influence of its mode of application on activation of shoulder girdle musculature has been scantily studied by previous research in young overhead athletes. To investigate the activity of pectoralis major (PM) and triceps brachii (TB) muscle during push-up exercise performed on the push-up bar and perfect push-up using shoulder width (SW), narrow shoulder width (NSW) and wide shoulder width (WSW) hand positions in young overhead athletes. 24 young overhead athletes were recruited for the present study. Surface electromyography (EMG) was recorded for the PM and the TB muscles during the performance of push-up exercise on the push-up bar and perfect push-up using different hand positions (SW, NSW, and WSW). Root mean square (RMS) of the EMG signal was analyzed during each variation of push-up exercise for both muscles. Muscle activity was calculated as percentage maximum voluntary isometric contraction (% MVIC). EMG activity of PM muscle was significantly greater in WSW hand position as compared to SW (p < 0.01) and NSW (p < 0.01) hand position; whereas, the activity of TB was significantly greater in NSW hand position as compared to SW (p < 0.01) and WSW (p < 0.01) hand position. There were no significant differences in the EMG activity of PM (p = 0.54) and TB (p = 0.68) muscles between the push-up bar versus the perfect push-up. WSW hand position may be used during a push-up when the goal is to strengthen PM; whereas, an NSW hand position may be utilized for the selective strengthening of TB muscle. Both perfect push-up and push-up bar may be utilized by overhead athletes for performing push-ups based on the availability of equipment.