About Michael Worden, AS, H/FI Expertise I am a certified health/fitness and instructor and personal trainer with expertise in the areas of human performance, exercise and training.My specific interests and areas of expertise also include strength training, aerobic training, sport conditioning, fitness assessment and testing, program design, programs for competitive runners and cyclists, exercise for weight loss, youth fitness and training, law enforcement fitness and exercise for persons with special health and medical considerations.
Experience I hold professional certifications from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Council on Exercise.I have worked as a personal trainer/instructor, fitness director and health club manager for the past eight years in different capacities.
Orange County Community College Manhattan College American College of Sports Medicine Certified Health/Fitness Instructor and Exercise Leader American Council on Exercise Certified Personal Trainer Madd Dog Atheltics (Johnny G.) Certified Spinning Instructor Continuing Education Course Provider for the Aerobic and Fintess Association of America (AFAA) Member of IDEA, the international association of fitness professionals
Forum moderator for Ask the Personal Trainer and Ask the Exercise Scientist at http://www.fitnessworld.com. Former United States Cycling Federaton CAT IV competitive bicyclist and former competitive runner and duathlete. Published numerous articles for local newsoutlets on fitness issues and questions. I am an Adjunct Instructor of Physical Education with Orange County Community College, Middletown, NY, teaching Concepts of Physical Wellness and Stretching for Wellness in the Fall 2001 semester.
Question I am a 36 yr old male weighing 95kg with the following question.
When I assume the push up position over a set of scales it reads 63kg, and I can do a comfortable 20 push ups. However I cannot do a 20 rep bench press with 63kg!
I've tried inclining my bench press position to simulate a push up but to no avail. Why is this so? Isn't a bench press the same as a push up, but in reverse? And which is better for my body?
Answer Although similar the two are inf act different exercises that recruit the muscles involved in specific manners.
PArt of the problem in simulating the push up on a bench is that you can angle the body, but it is difficult to recreate the same angle of the torso and shoulders and arms that is found in the push up. You also have the benefit of the fact that in a push up your body acts as one giant lever (with the feet touching the ground being a fulcrum) so while the force is being generated in the arms and chest, the body moves at the feet to allow the chest to rise and fall with the arms. This gives you mechanical advantage and explains why you can do more weight in push ups than with a similar weight and position in a press.
Ultimately, the bench will have greater potential to build strength and progress as you can modify the angles and add weights and change grips. In the push up, you are limited by the number of repetitions and the grip. (you could add weight to the body).
