What To Do if You Hit a Plateau in Pushups: Pushing Past Plateaus

Overcoming plateaus can be difficult, but it‘s not impossible. Push-ups are a classic exercise that can help build upper body strength and endurance.

However, if you’ve been doing push-ups for a while, you may find that you hit a plateau in your progress.

This can be frustrating, but it’s important to remember that there are ways to break through the plateau and continue making gains.

In this post, I explain some tips and strategies for overcoming a plateau in your push-up performance and taking your fitness to the next level.

Hitting a plateau in your push-up routine can be frustrating, but it’s important to remember that progress isn’t always linear. Here are a few steps you can take to break through your push-up plateau then I explain on them further below: vary your push-up routine, increase resistance, adjust your form, take a break, or incorporate other exercises.

Remember, consistency is key when it comes to making progress with push-ups. Keep pushing yourself and trying new things, and you’ll be able to break through your plateau and continue making gains.

 

Vary your push-up routine.

When you do the same push-up routine repeatedly, your body will eventually adapt to it, and the exercise will become less challenging.

To continue making progress, you need to challenge your muscles in new ways.

By incorporating different types of push-ups, such as diamond push-ups, decline push-ups, or one-arm push-ups, you force your muscles to work in different ways, which can help you break through your plateau.

For example, diamond push-ups place more emphasis on your triceps, while decline push-ups target your upper chest and shoulders.

One-arm push-ups require more stability and core strength, making them a great way to challenge your body in new ways.

By adding these variations to your push-up routine, you’ll not only challenge your muscles in new ways, but you’ll also prevent boredom and keep your workouts exciting.

Here is a chart table on different types of push-ups and their benefits:

Type of Push-Up	How to Do It	Benefits
Standard Push-Ups	Start in a plank position on your toes with your feet together. Place your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Lower your body until your chest is close to the floor. Push back up to the starting position.	Strengthens the arms, chest, and shoulders. Improves stability and balance. Improves posture and increases flexibility.
Diamond Push-Ups	Start in a plank position on your toes with your hands close together, forming a diamond shape with your index fingers and thumbs. Lower your body until your chest is close to the floor. Push back up to the starting position.	Places more emphasis on the triceps. Targets the inner chest.
Decline Push-Ups	Place your feet on a bench or box and your hands on the ground. Lower your body until your chest is close to the floor. Push back up to the starting position.	Places more emphasis on the upper chest. Strengthens the shoulders and triceps.
One-Arm Push-Ups	Start in a plank position on your toes with one hand behind your back. Lower your body until your chest is close to the floor. Push back up to the starting position.	Increases core stability. Targets the chest, shoulders, and triceps.

Incorporating different types of push-ups into your routine can help you challenge your muscles in new ways and prevent plateauing. Remember to practice proper form and safety considerations to avoid injury.

 

Increase resistance.

Adding resistance to your push-up routine can help you break through a plateau by increasing the overall challenge of the exercise.

By adding weight, your muscles are required to work harder to push your body up, which can lead to increased strength gains.

There are several ways to add resistance to your push-ups. One common method is to wear a weighted vest, which adds extra weight to your body.

Another option is to place weight plates on your back, either by holding them in a backpack or using a weight belt.

When adding weight to your push-up routine, it’s important to start with a manageable amount and gradually increase over time.

For example, you might start with a 5-pound weight vest and increase to 10 pounds after a few weeks. This gradual increase allows your muscles to adapt to the added resistance and prevents injury.

It’s also important to maintain proper form when adding weight to your push-ups. Make sure your hands are still shoulder-width apart, your elbows are tucked in, and your body is in a straight line from head to heels.

If you find that adding weight is causing your form to suffer, reduce the weight or take a break from weighted push-ups until you can maintain proper form again.

Here is a chart table on how to increase resistance in push-ups:

Method	How to Do It	Benefits
Weighted Push-Ups	Wear a weighted vest or place weight plates on your back. Perform push-ups as usual.	Increases resistance and challenges the muscles. Helps to build strength and muscle mass in the upper body.
Resistance Band Push-Ups	Place a resistance band across your back and wrap the ends around your hands. Perform push-ups as usual.	Increases resistance and challenges the muscles. Helps to build strength and muscle mass in the upper body.
Handstand Push-Ups	Start in a handstand position with your feet against the wall. Lower your body until your head touches the ground. Push back up to the starting position.	Increases resistance and challenges the muscles. Targets the shoulders, triceps, and upper chest.
Plyometric Push-Ups	Perform a standard push-up, but push up explosively so that your hands leave the ground. Land softly and repeat.	Increases resistance and challenges the muscles. Helps to build explosive power and speed in the upper body.

Adding weight or resistance to your push-up routine can help you break through plateaus and build strength and muscle mass in the upper body. Remember to start with a manageable weight or resistance and gradually increase it over time to avoid injury.

Adjust your form

Push-ups are a great exercise for building upper body strength and endurance, but many people struggle with performing them correctly.

One of the most common mistakes is having incorrect hand placement. To perform a push-up correctly, your hands should be positioned shoulder-width apart.

This ensures that your weight is evenly distributed and that your shoulders are properly engaged.

Another important factor is elbow placement. Your elbows should be tucked in close to your body, rather than flared out to the sides.

This helps to protect your shoulders and puts more emphasis on your chest and triceps muscles.

Finally, it’s important to maintain a straight line from your head to your heels throughout the exercise. This means keeping your core engaged and your hips level.

This not only ensures proper form, but also helps to prevent injury and maximize the effectiveness of the exercise.

By making these small adjustments to your form, you can improve your push-up performance and get more out of this classic exercise.

Here is a chart table on proper push-up form:

Element	How to Do It	Benefits
Hand Placement	Place your hands on the ground slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Fingers should be spread wide for stability.	Helps to distribute weight evenly across the chest, shoulders, and triceps. Improves stability and balance.
Elbow Position	Tuck your elbows close to your body as you lower yourself down.	Helps to prevent strain on the shoulders and reduces the risk of injury. Targets the triceps and chest muscles more effectively.
Body Alignment	Keep your body in a straight line from your head to your heels. Engage your core muscles and glutes to maintain proper alignment.	Helps to prevent strain on the lower back and reduces the risk of injury. Increases overall strength and stability.

Proper form is essential for maximizing the benefits of push-ups and reducing the risk of injury. By adjusting your hand placement, elbow position, and body alignment, you can ensure that you are using the correct muscles and targeting them effectively. Remember to focus on quality over quantity and always listen to your body to avoid overexertion.

 

Take a break.

Taking a break from your push-up routine can be one of the most effective ways to break through a plateau in progress.

Overtraining, or doing too much exercise without giving your muscles adequate time to recover, can lead to decreased performance and a lack of progress.

When you take a few days off from doing push-ups, your muscles have the opportunity to rest and repair themselves.

This can help to reduce muscle fatigue and soreness, as well as allow your muscles to become stronger and more resilient.

When you return to your push-up routine, you may find that you’re able to perform more push-ups than before, as your muscles have had time to recover and adapt to the exercise.

It’s important to note that taking a break doesn’t mean you should stop exercising altogether.

Instead, try incorporating other types of exercise, such as cardio or strength training for other muscle groups, to maintain your overall fitness level while allowing your push-up muscles time to recover.

taking a break from your push-up routine can be a great way to break through a plateau and continue making progress towards your fitness goals.

Here is a chart table on taking breaks in your push-up routine:

Element	How to Do It	Benefits
Frequency	Take a break from push-ups for 1-2 days per week.	Allows your muscles to rest and recover. Helps to prevent overtraining and plateauing in progress.
Duration	Take a break from push-ups for 1-2 weeks every 8-12 weeks.	Allows for more extensive recovery and helps to prevent burnout. Can help to jumpstart progress when you return to your routine.
Active Recovery	Incorporate active recovery activities such as stretching, foam rolling, or light cardio on your break days.	Helps to improve circulation, reduce soreness and stiffness, and promote overall recovery.

Taking breaks in your push-up routine is essential for preventing overtraining, reducing the risk of injury, and promoting progress. By incorporating regular rest days and longer breaks every few months, you can give your muscles the time they need to recover and repair. Remember to listen to your body and adjust your routine as needed to avoid burnout and achieve your fitness goals.

 

Incorporate other exercises.

Incorporating other exercises into your routine can be a great way to break through a plateau in your push-up performance.

By strengthening other muscles that are involved in push-ups, such as your chest, shoulders, and triceps, you can improve your overall strength and endurance and make it easier to perform more push-ups.

Bench presses are a great exercise for strengthening the chest muscles, which are heavily involved in push-ups.

By performing bench presses with proper form and gradually increasing the weight over time, you can help build the strength and endurance needed to perform more push-ups.

Shoulder presses are another effective exercise for strengthening the shoulders, which are also involved in push-ups.

By performing shoulder presses with proper form, you can improve your shoulder strength and stability, which can help you maintain proper form during push-ups and reduce the risk of injury.

Tricep dips are a great exercise for targeting the triceps, which are another key muscle group involved in push-ups.

By performing tricep dips with proper form and gradually increasing the difficulty over time, you can help build the strength and endurance needed to perform more push-ups.

Incorporating these exercises into your routine, along with push-ups, can help you break through a plateau and continue making progress towards your fitness goals.

Just be sure to vary your routine and gradually increase the difficulty over time to avoid overtraining and injury.

Here is a chart table on incorporating other exercises to improve your push-up performance:

Exercise	How to Do It	Benefits
Bench Press	Lie on a bench with your feet flat on the ground. Grab the bar with your hands shoulder-width apart and lower it slowly to your chest. Push the bar back up until your arms are fully extended.	Targets the chest, shoulders, and triceps. Improves upper body strength and power. Can help to increase push-up endurance.
Shoulder Press	Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold a dumbbell in each hand at shoulder height. Press the weights up overhead, then lower them back down to shoulder height.	Targets the shoulders, triceps, and upper back. Improves shoulder stability and strength. Can help to improve push-up form and endurance.
Tricep Dips	Sit on the edge of a bench or chair with your hands gripping the edge. Lower your body down until your elbows are bent at a 90-degree angle, then push back up until your arms are straight.	Targets the triceps, chest, and shoulders. Improves upper body strength and power. Can help to increase push-up endurance.

Incorporating other exercises into your routine can help you break through a plateau in your push-up performance. By targeting the muscles involved in push-ups and building overall strength and endurance, you can improve your form, increase your reps, and achieve your fitness goals. Remember to start with lighter weights or variations of the exercises if you are new to them, and always listen to your body to avoid injury.

Here’s a chart that summarizes the tips and strategies mentioned in the post:

Tip/Strategy	Description
Take breaks	If you’ve been doing push-ups frequently, taking a break for a few days can help your muscles recover and come back stronger.
Incorporate other exercises	Strengthening other muscles involved in push-ups, such as your chest, shoulders, and triceps, can help you break through your plateau. Try exercises like bench presses, shoulder presses, and tricep dips.
Focus on proper form	Make sure you’re using proper form during push-ups to engage the right muscles and avoid injury. Keep your core tight, your back straight, and your elbows close to your body.
Vary your routine	To keep your muscles challenged, vary your push-up routine by changing the number of reps, sets, or types of push-ups you do.
Set realistic goals	Setting realistic goals can help you stay motivated and track your progress. Start with a small number of push-ups and gradually increase over time.
Be patient	Breaking through a plateau takes time and dedication. Be patient with yourself and trust the process.

Remember, everyone’s body is different, so what works for one person may not work for another. Experiment with different strategies and find what works best for you. With consistency and dedication, you can break through your push-up plateau and continue making gains towards your fitness goals.

 Conclusion

In conclusion, hitting a plateau in your push-up performance is a common experience, but it doesn’t have to mean the end of your progress.

By incorporating new strategies into your routine, such as taking breaks, incorporating other exercises, and focusing on proper form, you can break through the plateau and continue making gains.

Just remember to vary your routine, set realistic goals, and be patient with yourself as you work towards improving your push-up performance.

With dedication and consistency, you can achieve your fitness goals and take your push-up performance to the next level.