Apparently too many of us focus solely on cardiovascular health and ignore muscle mass. So the good old-fashioned push-up is supposed to be an ideal exercise, because it builds all muscle groups and endurance. I guess they forgot about the fact that they're torture to do.
A new study says that if you can do a push-up, then when you're older you're less likely to be hurt badly by falls.
Women are at a particular disadvantage because they start off with about 20 percent less muscle than men. Many women bend their knees to lower the amount of weight they must support. And while anybody can do a push-up, the exercise has typically been part of the male fitness culture. “It’s sort of a gender-specific symbol of vitality,” said R. Scott Kretchmar, a professor of exercise and sports science at Penn State. “I don’t see women saying: ‘I’m in good health. Watch me drop down and do some push-ups.’ ”
Based on national averages, a 40-year-old woman should be able to do 16 push-ups and a man the same age should be able to do 27. By the age of 60, those numbers drop to 17 for men and 6 for women. Those numbers are just slightly less than what is required of Army soldiers who are subjected to regular push-up tests.
I just tried. I can do 3 if I use my whole body; 14 if I bend at the elbows. And I'm 37. Guess I've got some work to do!
You know, I'm 49 and have been doing the guy push ups for years now.....I can do about 15 in the winter and about 23 in the summer...I've always been afraid of getting weaker, as I am a small person and I don't want to break anything if I don't have too!!!
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You know, I'm 49 and have been doing the guy push ups for years now.....I can do about 15 in the winter and about 23 in the summer...I've always been afraid of getting weaker, as I am a small person and I don't want to break anything if I don't have too!!!