Shoulders · Bodyweight
Elbow Touch and Press-up
How to do the elbow touch and press-up, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- Reps
- Movement
- VerticalPush
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Stand tall and lift both arms to shoulder height with elbows bent. Bring your elbows together in front of your chest until they touch, then press your hands up overhead and return. Move with control through the full range.
- 1Squeeze across the front of your chest as the elbows touch
- 2Feel your shoulders lift the arms overhead on the press
- 3Keep your core braced and ribs down throughout
Common mistakes
- Don't shrug your shoulders up toward your ears
- Avoid arching your lower back as you press up
- Don't rush; control both the touch and the press
Muscles worked
The elbow touch and press-up mainly works the front delts, with the triceps, upper chest, mid chest, upper traps, and side delts assisting.
- Front DeltsPrimary
- TricepsSupport
- Upper ChestSupport
- Mid ChestSupport
- Upper TrapsSupport
- Side DeltsSupport
- Upper AbsMinor
- Lower AbsMinor
- Internal RotatorsMinor
Kovo programs the elbow touch and press-up for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More shoulders exercises
- How to do the battle rope alternating waves
- How to do the arm circles
- How to do the arnold press
- How to do the resistance band front raise
- How to do the resistance band lateral raise
- How to do the resistance band overhead press
Last reviewed June 2026.