Chest · Bodyweight
Push-up Plus
How to do the push-up plus, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Logged as
- Reps
- Movement
- Horizontal Press
- Mechanic
- Compound
How to do it
Set up in a push-up position with hands under your shoulders. Perform a standard push-up, then at the top press your upper back toward the ceiling by spreading your shoulder blades apart. Lower back to neutral and repeat.
- 1Feel your chest and triceps work the push-up
- 2Feel the serratus muscles along your ribs round your upper back at the top
- 3Keep your core tight and hips level throughout
Common mistakes
- Don't let your hips sag toward the floor
- Avoid shrugging your shoulders up to your ears at the top
- Don't let your head crane forward
Muscles worked
The push-up plus mainly works the mid chest, with the triceps, upper chest, lower chest, upper abs, lower abs, and front delts assisting.
- Mid ChestPrimary
- TricepsSupport
- Upper ChestSupport
- Lower ChestSupport
- Upper AbsSupport
- Lower AbsSupport
- Front DeltsSupport
- ForearmsMinor
- Upper TrapsMinor
- Mid TrapsMinor
- ObliquesMinor
- GlutesMinor
- Internal RotatorsMinor
Kovo programs the push-up plus 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 chest exercises
- How to do the archer push-up
- How to do the assisted dip
- How to do the resistance band chest flyes
- How to do the resistance band push-up
- How to do the barbell bench press
- How to do the paused bench press
Last reviewed June 2026.