How to Do Parallette Push-Ups | Form & Benefits
Learn the correct technique for parallette push-ups to improve your chest depth, protect your wrists, and build upper body strength.
How to Perform
- Place the parallettes on the floor slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and grip the handles with your palms facing each other.
- Extend your legs behind you and align your head, hips, and heels to form a straight line in a high plank position.
- Lower your chest slowly between the handles by bending your elbows until your shoulders are below the level of your hands.
- Pause for a brief second at the bottom of the movement to take advantage of the increased stretch in the pectoral muscles.
- Press firmly through the handles to extend your arms and return to the starting position while maintaining a rigid core.
- Exhale as you push upward and ensure your elbows do not flare excessively out to the sides.
Common Mistakes
- Allowing the hips to sag toward the floor which puts undue stress on the lower back.
- Shortening the range of motion by not descending deep enough between the bars.
- Flaring the elbows out at a ninety-degree angle which can irritate the shoulder joints.
- Rushing the repetitions and using momentum rather than controlled muscular contraction.
Muscles Worked
Primary movers
- Chest
Stabilizers
- Triceps
- Front Deltoids
- Core
Related Guides
- Bench Press — Chest
- Benchpress Dumbbells — Chest
- Bent over Cable Flye — Chest
Chest · Chest