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Author Topic: Push-ups on chairs and bent over DB rows: mostly shoulders?  (Read 204 times)
HerrKaputt
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« on: July 30, 2010, 02:48:46 PM »

Hello folks,

I am counting on your expertise to help me with something. I am a beginner and am following the following workout:

- Chin-ups
- Lunges
- Push-ups with hands and feet on chairs
- One-arm bent-over DB rows
- One-leg straight-leg deadlifts
- Chest flys

The two exercises in bold are what I want to discuss. I do the push-ups for chest and triceps, and since usually triceps get tired first I do the chest flys to finish the chest. Today however, noticed that my shoulders (anterior deltoid) gave up first. I don't go way below the plane of the chairs, just a little, and my torso and legs are completely straight.

The one-arm bent-over DB rows on the other hand feel good but in all honesty when I couldn't do them anymore it appeared it was because of my triceps (Huh?). I have since thought a bit and looked at exrx.net and it probably was the posterior deltoid that failed.

So here is my question: do others who do these exercises also feel that (despite information on exrx.net) they really hit the shoulders? If not, what am I doing wrong?

Thanks in advance.
« Last Edit: July 30, 2010, 04:09:44 PM by HerrKaputt » Logged

Awex
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    « Reply #1 on: July 30, 2010, 03:37:53 PM »

    I get the same dude, not so much that I go to failure because of my shoulders but they do hurt when I do various exercises, my explanation would be that the shoulder muscles are used a fair bit when doing any exercise involving movement of the upper arm therefore it's natural to experience fatigue in them.

    What I would suggest is that if your shoulders are letting you down, you could do a few shoulder exercises to strengthen them which in turn should improve your push ups and BB rows, or just keep going and hope your shoulders adapt to the strain as they could be underdeveloped compared to your chest/tricps/lats etc.
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    RubenVL
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    « Reply #2 on: July 31, 2010, 03:40:25 AM »

    Can't say I have.
    For pushups, they do warm up my shoulders, but have never given in. As for rows; For me, they're all I need to work the back side of my shoulder, but again, it has never given in. Smiley
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    HerrKaputt
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    « Reply #3 on: July 31, 2010, 08:01:23 AM »

    After watching Scooby's video on DB rows I think I spotted one problem. I was definitely flexing my elbow too much, i.e., the angle in the elbow at the top of the motion was less than 90 degrees.

    I'll try in tomorrow's workout to see if that helps.
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    Awex
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    « Reply #4 on: July 31, 2010, 10:01:55 AM »

    Rows can be difficult to get the hang of, basically though keep the dumbbell in front of the standing leg so your not bringing it up the leg but just in front, keep your elbow tucked toward your body so it doesn't flail out towards the side and don't try and bring the dumbbell up to far towards your chest as I find this puts extra pressure on the arm. Also try and flex you lats while your doing it. Works for me so give it a try
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    HerrKaputt
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    « Reply #5 on: July 31, 2010, 02:09:32 PM »

    Thanks for the tips, that might take care of the DB rows.

    As for the push-ups on chairs, is this proper form?
    3 Chair Push Up Bodyweight Exercise


    I don't go nearly as low as that guy.
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    RubenVL
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    « Reply #6 on: July 31, 2010, 02:11:41 PM »

    If your shoulders can take it, yes. Smiley
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    Dread
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    « Reply #7 on: July 31, 2010, 02:56:44 PM »

    If you are getting most of the burn in your shoulders all it means is your shoulder is the weaker muscle. Bent over rows with DBs target your lats and biceps but nothing moves without your shoulder. Basically the same with pushups. Targeting chest and tris but your shoulders make it all happen. Doing it on chairs is great for strength.
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