At boot camp today I mentioned the New York Times article on push-ups (thanks for the tip, Susan). As I've mentioned before, push-ups are an excellent measure of strength, not just for the arms or chest, but for most of the body. As the article says:
The push-up is the ultimate barometer of fitness. It tests the whole body, engaging muscle groups in the arms, chest, abdomen, hips and legs. It requires the body to be taut like a plank with toes and palms on the floor. The act of lifting and lowering one’s entire weight is taxing even for the very fit.
In addition to showing just how strong you are, there are additional benefits to practicing push-ups, namely as we age. Not only are we able to break a fall safely and minimize injury to the wrist, but if we fall or find ourselves on the ground, upper body strength can help pull us up.
These are the national standards cited in the article:
40 year-old woman = 16 push-ups
40 year-old man = 27
60 year-old woman = 6
60 year-old man = 17.
And if you watch the video, check-out the plyometric push-ups (with a clap) at the end...
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