Kinematic and kinetic analysis of push-up exercise.

The purpose of this study was to experimentally measure and analytically determine the load across the wrist, elbow, and shoulder joints during push-ups to better understand the nature of this exercise. A piezoelectric force platform was used to measure the vertical and two shear forces as well as the moment and the location of the center of pressure on the hand during a push-up. The electromagnetic tracking system was utilized to associate the force and moment measurement on the hand to the joints of the upper limbs. Factors which affect the intersegmental loads on the joints during push-ups include the location of the palm relative to the shoulder joint, the plane of arm movement, and the relative foot positions. In addition, the speed of push-ups also affects the amount of inertial load on top of the base static load.