Perfect Push-Up: Great Tool for Improving Upper Body Strength

Over the past few years, my fitness level has dropped off significantly. I've simply gotten lazy and stopped working out the way I used to.

A few weeks ago, I made a decision to get back in shape... as if that's never happened before. One of my goals was to re-build my upper body strength. When a friend of mine suggested that I get the Perfect Push-up, I was skeptical. It seemed like another infomercial gimmick that wouldn't do anything.

After three weeks of using the product, I can say I'm 100% satisfied with my purchase. It's a great workout tool, and the workout plan that it comes with helps provide the structure you need to continue working out in the long term.

What Is the Perfect Push-up?

The Perfect Push-up is designed to help you get a decent upper-body workout without going to the gym. It consists of two circular handles which you grip while doing a standard push-up.

To do a push-up, you get in a regular push-up position. As you lower your body towards the ground, you rotate your hands using the push-up grip. This allows your wrist and fore-arm to rotate 90 degrees as you flex your arm - a very natural movement.

This improves your form as you do a push-up, and it places extra stress on the muscles that you are trying to work (i.e. pectorals and triceps) and less on your wrist and forearm. It greatly improves the quality of your push-up, which will in turn improve the quality of your work-out.

First Impressions

The first day I got the Perfect Push-up, I took a few minutes to watch the instructional DVD and peruse the workout chart, and then I gave them a try.

There are three basic exercises described in the video - a standard push-up, a narrow grip push-up, and a wide grip push-up. Like ordinary push-ups and bench pressing, this places a stress on different areas of your upper body.

I started with the standard push-up. Using the paddles to rotate my grip seemed very natural, and the motion was comfortable. The wide grip push-up also felt comfortable, but it was much more difficult for me to complete - probably due to my current fitness level.

The only thing I did not like was the narrow grip push-up. I never did like these, and trying to do them with the Perfect Push-up is no different. The motion feels somewhat awkward and it is tough for me to do these. Perhaps it's simply a lack of strength in my triceps - I'll have to re-evaluate these after a few more weeks.

Results the Next Day

Well, I wouldn't say there were any visible results after one day. Nor did I necessarily become stronger after one day.

However, I was definitely sore. If you've ever started a new workout routine at the gym, you know the feeling. The muscles that you worked are sore for the next few days, and you feel somewhat weak as your muscles recuperate from the workout.

Typically, this is evidence that you've done a good job exercising that muscle group. The friend who suggested that I try out the Perfect Push-up commented about this and asked me if I'd ever been sore like that from doing regular push-ups. I can honestly say I haven't.

Long Term Results

Aside from feeling sore the next day (and for a week or two throughout my workout routine), there is some more concrete evidence that this has produced results.

The Perfect Pushup comes with a suggested work-out routine. First, you determine how many push-ups you can do in one set and use that to adjust the number of repetitions for your current fitness level. The first day I got the Perfect Push-up, I was able to do roughly 8 push-ups with good form.

The workout routine consists of a series of 2-minute drills, 3-4 drills per day on alternating days. After three weeks, you test how many push-ups you can do in a single set and see if you need to adjust your workout routine.

I followed the routine fairly closely - although I admit I missed a few sets here and there - and my strength has definitely improved. On the last day, I tested my max number of reptitions and was able to do 16 push-ups with good form. That's quite an improvement in just a few weeks, spending only 15-20 minutes every other day.

Final Impressions

The Perfect Push-up won't turn you into a body builder. You shouldn't expect too much from a simple product that relies on your body weight as a form of resistance. If you want to bench press 300 lbs... go to the gym.

If you have more realistic expectations, this is a great product and it won't disappoint you.

It's fairly cheap - I picked it up on Amazon for $40. That's about the same that I paid for a small free-weights set. It's small, easy to store, and easy to transport. I'd have no problem taking these with me on a trip and working out in a hotel.

Moreover, it produces results. I can honestly say that after three weeks of using the Perfect Push-up, I've gained endurance and strength in my upper body. That's exactly what I expected, and it's exactly what I got. I plan to keep using this to workout on a regular basis in the months to come, and I hope for more steady gains in fitness.