Press Up Test

What's The Point?

For a quick, simple assessment of upper body strength, the press up test is hard to beat. Requiring almost no equipment, it requires good strength endurance in the arms, chest, shoulders, and upper back muscles.

Given the time many athletes spend training their upper body, regular testing is an essential way to track progress.

What Do You Need?

• A flat surface
   
• An Assistant

How Do You Perform The Tests?

Full press-ups:

• Assume the standard press-up position, with hands shoulder-width apart
   
• Lower your body until your elbows reach 90 degrees
   
• Return to the starting position with your arms fully extended
   
• Complete as many press-ups as possible with no rest
   
• Record the total number of press-ups performed

Modified Press-Ups:

Those who lack the upper body strength to perform full press-ups can use the modified press up position to assess their upper body strength.

• Kneel on the mat, hands shoulder-width apart
   
• Lower your body until your elbows reach 90 degrees
   
• Return to the starting position with your arms fully extended
   
• Complete as many press-ups as possible with no rest
   
• Record the total number of press-ups performed

What Results You'll See

Performing this test regularly will allow you to assess the development of your upper body strength. You can also refer to the normative data for the two different types of press-ups described.

Full body press-ups

Modified Press-ups

What's Being Measured Again?

This is a simple way to assess the development of upper body strength.