Are Push Ups Bad For You?
Also Known As: pushups, push-ups, press-ups
Short answer
Pushups aren’t bad for you unless you do more than your shoulders can handle. In that case, you could damage your rotator cuff. They also aren’t a complete fitness routine on their own.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
Like any form of exercise, pushups put strain on your body. Do too many, or do them incorrectly, and there's a chance that you can hurt yourself.
Be careful not to overdo it. Pushups put strain on the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in your shoulder - if you're doing them correctly, you'll be forcing your shoulder to carry most or all of your body weight. Do too many, and you could exhaust yourself - compromising your form and raising the chance that you'll inadvertently damage a component of your arm or shoulder.
At particular risk is your rotator cuff. That's a segment of your shoulder that's thick with intertwined muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The rotator cuff allows you to move your arm in a whole range of ways. Put too much stress on it and you could rip one of those components. That might land you in physical therapy or the hospital for a long, painful, and repetitive recovery. It'll certainly interfere with your ability to do more pushups.
The number of pushups that you do, therefore, should be appropriate to your age, body weight, and level of fitness. Remember to stretch before and after and to diversify your pushups with other core exercises. These precautions will reduce your risk of injury and help to raise your overall level of fitness.
If you're not comfortable with traditional pushups, there are intermediate exercises you can perform. Try modified versions with your knees on the ground or with your weight resting on the wall to strengthen your core and shoulder muscles to the point where pushups are more viable.
Keep in mind that core exercises like pushups do not by themselves make up a complete fitness routine. At the very least, you'll want to mix in cardio exercises to improve your stamina and some weights to improve your muscle strength.
Possible short-term side effects
- injury (especially to your rotator cuff)
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soreness
Benefits
- build core strength
-
burn calories
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can be done anywhere
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can be easily modified
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