Chest · Bodyweight
Push-up
How to do the push-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
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Horizontal Press
- Mechanic
- Compound
See it in motion
How to do it
Start in plank position with hands slightly wider than shoulder-width. Lower chest to floor by bending elbows, then push back up to starting position.
- 1Feel your chest, triceps, and front shoulders working
- 2Maintain a strong plank with your core engaged
- 3Move through a full range of motion touching your chest to the ground
Common mistakes
- Avoid flaring your elbows excessively
- Don't let your hips sag or pike up
- Avoid performing shallow half-reps
Muscles worked
The push-up mainly works the mid chest, with the triceps, upper chest, lower chest, upper abs, and front delts assisting.
- Mid ChestPrimary
- TricepsSupport
- Upper ChestSupport
- Lower ChestSupport
- Upper AbsSupport
- Front DeltsSupport
- ForearmsMinor
- Lower AbsMinor
- ObliquesMinor
Kovo programs the push-up for you and tracks it every session.
The AI builds your whole program, drops the right lifts into each workout, and adjusts your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More chest exercises
- How to do the barbell bench press
- How to do the leverage machine bench press
- How to do the cable chest flyes
- How to do the chest dip
- How to do the machine chest press
- How to do the close-grip bench press
Last reviewed April 2026.