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About Rich Ruffing
Expertise
I can answer to questions to all aspects of exercise: strength training, flexibility, cardiovascular, body composition, etc.. The questions can be general or they can be more specific or individualized. I can help you with workout design, exercise selection, recovery methods and any other aspects that are part of your program. Visit my website, www.richruffing.com, for more information.
Experience
I have been training since 2000, working in health clubs and studios and working with a variety of clients.
Education/Credentials
I have a Bachelors Degree in Sports Biology and am certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Currently, I am working towards my licensure as a massage therapist.
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You are here: Experts > Recreation/Outdoors > Bodybuilding > Strength Training > exercise
Expert: Rich Ruffing
Date: 5/13/2007
Subject: exercise
Question
QUESTION: I heard low weight high reps increases size/mass/endurance of muscle and the strength inducing exercise of low reps and high weight doesn't increase much size.
1. what's the difference between the pectoralis minor and pectoralis major clavicular?
2. what does a regular push up exercise? will it actually build chest muscle?strength,size,endurance?
3. I'm 5 foot 6, 140 pounds(male) and can do 25 regular push ups on the ground. However, I can only do 60 pounds 7 times when benching on a slightly inclined bench upward. Can you provide an explanation for this? It seems rather strange to me!
Thank you very much for your help.
ANSWER: Hi Jeff. I'm not an anatomy expert, but I will tell you what I know. The pec minor actually lies underneath the pec major. Also, the origin of each is different so that that the muscles almost run in a diagonal pattern.
People are always asking about pushups. Do they build strength? Do they build endurance? It's a different answer for each person. If your sets are in the 1-10rep range, then there's more of a strength focus. If you're reps tend to be higher, then there's more of an endurance focus. Then people make the mistake of trying to equate pushups to bench press performance. The bench press is an open-chain exercise, while push-ups are a closed chain exercise. Closed chain exercises are always going to be more difficult. The same can be said of the comparison between chinups and lat pulldowns or squats and leg presses. It's always harder to push or pull your body away or to the axis of rotation.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: you say that push ups are harder than benching. FOr some reason, I find benching harder!
Why is this?
How much of my weight am I pushing up in a push up with legs(not knees) on floor?
(I'm 5 foot 6, 140 pounds(male))
How much should I be able to bench?
Answer
No. What I am saying is that pushups and benching are two different types of forces, therefore you can not make a comparison between the two. How much should you be able to bench? I can not tell you that, but a good level would be 1.5xyour bodyweight.
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