Wide Arm Push-Ups

Muscles worked: Chest · Also: Triceps, Shoulders

Wide Arm Push-Ups spread the hands well beyond shoulder width, which changes the pressing angle and puts more emphasis on the outer chest.

Keep your body straight and lower with control — the wide position can tempt your shoulders to flare, so keep the elbows at a comfortable angle rather than locked out to the sides. Only go as deep as your shoulders allow comfortably.

How to do it

1. Set your hands well beyond shoulder width in a plank on your hands and toes, with your body straight from head to heels.
2. Lower your chest toward the floor with control, keeping your elbows at a comfortable angle rather than flared fully out to the sides.
3. Stop when your chest nearly touches the floor, or at the deepest point your shoulders allow comfortably.
4. Press back up to the plank without letting your hips sag.
5. If the wide position strains your shoulders, narrow your hands a little or switch to a standard push-up.

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General fitness information only, not medical advice. Stop if an exercise causes pain, and talk to a doctor before starting a new workout routine if you have a health condition.