How many push-ups can you do?

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Do as many push-ups as possible until exhaustion without stopping to rest.

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Pre-Test: Warm Up

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Technique:

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Use the standard "military style" push-up technique. The starting position is facing down with your weight distributed on the hands and feet, arms straight. The body is rigid and straight, and the hands are placed approximately shoulder width apart (or just a bit wider). Lower your body until your chest nears the floor at the bottom of the movement, and then return up to the starting position. This is one repetition. To measure the distance to the floor at the bottom position (10-12 cm) you can place a soft object right underneath your chest (like a yoga block placed flat on the floor or your towel rolled in to a roll)

Demonstration - Female

Demonstration - Male

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Can't do a full push-up? No Worries!  There is an additional option of using the "bent knee" technique (watch the video). To do this, kneel on the floor, hands on either side of the chest and keep your back straight. Lower the chest down towards the floor, always to the same level each time, either till your elbows are at right angles or your chest touches the ground.

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Count the total number of push-ups performed and use the charts below to find out how you rate. Remember, these scores are based on doing the tests as described, and may not be accurate if the test is modified at all.

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*Don't worry too much about how you rate - just try and improve your own score, and keep doing them the same way each time.