3 Ways You Can Modify Push-Ups, for Every Body Type

As timeless as the push-up is, let’s face it, performing one is not as easy as it looks. That’s because you’re basically lifting the weight of your whole body with your shoulder, chest, and arm muscles. If those muscle groups are not as strong as you’d like, doing a few push-ups may seem like an impossible feat. “Push-ups engage three major muscles of the upper body,” says Joan Pagano, an exercise physiologist in New York City. “The push-up targets the chest, the front of the shoulders, and the back of the arm [the tricep], and it engages your core muscles.” Enter: The push-up modifications.

“If you don’t like traditional push-ups there are a [few] modifications you can do that will make them more manageable for you,” says Pagano. Here are three push-up variations that are effective for every body: the wall push-up, the kitchen counter (diagonal) push-up, and the half push-up.

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Written by:

Brittany Doohan

Brittany Doohan was the Content Director at HealthiNation and is currently the Editorial Director at Medscape. Through her work with Medscape, she won a Silver Telly Award in May 2022 for "Sleepless Nation: A Public Health Epidemic — Episode 2: A Decade Without a Diagnosis." She has worked in health journalism and video production for more than 8 years, and loves the challenge of explaining complex topics in an easy-to-understand and creative way.

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Brian Clista, MD

Dr. Clista is a board-certified pediatrician who works in private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He previously served as a National Health Service Corporation Scholar in the inner city of Pittsburgh for 11 years.

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