
How to do the Decline Push-Up
- Lie on the floor face down and place your hands about 36 inches apart while holding your torso up at arms length. Move your feet up to a box or bench. This will be your starting position.
- Next, lower yourself downward until your chest almost touches the floor as you inhale.
- Now breathe out and press your upper body back up to the starting position while squeezing your chest.
- After a brief pause at the top contracted position, you can begin to lower yourself downward again for as many repetitions as needed.
Muscles worked
| Role | Muscles |
|---|---|
| Primary | chest |
| Secondary | shoulders, triceps |
| Equipment | no equipment |
| Difficulty | beginner |
| Type | compound |
Train the same muscles a different way
6 alternatives for the same chest, with and without kit.
Harder than the Decline Push-Up
Superset the Decline Push-Up with
Opposing lats and middle back work — alternate sets without extra rest.
Common questions
What muscles does the Decline Push-Up work?
The Decline Push-Up primarily works the chest, with the shoulders and triceps as secondary movers. Alternating Floor Press, Barbell Bench Press - Medium Grip, and Barbell Guillotine Bench Press train the same muscle, across 11 equipment types.
What equipment do you need for the Decline Push-Up?
None — the Decline Push-Up is bodyweight, so it works at home, in a hotel room or outdoors. Alternating Floor Press and Barbell Bench Press - Medium Grip also need nothing.
Is the Decline Push-Up suitable for beginners?
Yes, the Decline Push-Up is rated beginner. Plyo Kettlebell Pushups, Flat Bench Cable Flyes, and Incline Cable Flye are the progressions from here.
Where should the Decline Push-Up go in a workout?
Early — the Decline Push-Up is compound, working 3 muscle groups, so run it first or second while you are fresh, then superset Chin-Up and Inverted Row later.
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