The Decline Pushup: How To Do It, Muscles Worked & Modifications

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The Decline Pushup

Medically reviewed by Gregory Minnis, DPT — Written by Kirsten Nunez on May 24, 2019

Vs. incline and basic
How to
Tips
Benefits
Modifications
Other options
Muscles used
Takeaway

The decline pushup is a variation of the basic pushup. It’s done with your feet on an elevated surface, which puts your body at a downward angle and works your shoulders and pecs.

When you do pushups in this position, you work more of your upper pectoral muscles and front shoulders.

Decline vs. incline and basic pushups

Incline pushup	Basic pushup	Decline pushup
Position	Hands are placed on raised surface lifting the upper body farther off the ground than your feet.	With hands and feet on a flat, even surface, the up position is a plank position.	Feet are placed on a raised surface with your hands on a lower surface or the ground.
Best for	working your lower pecs	overall chest, shoulders, arms, and core workout	working your shoulders and upper pecs

How to

Step-by-step instructions

You’ll need a raised surface like bench, box, or chair to do decline pushups.

The higher the surface, the harder the exercise will be. If you’re new to decline pushups, start with a low surface, like a curb or step. You can increase the height over time.

Kneel down with your back to the bench. Put your hands on the floor, shoulders over your wrists and elbows at 45 degrees. Place your feet on top of the bench.
Brace your core, glutes, and quads. Bend your elbows and lower your chest to the floor, keeping your back and neck straight.
Push into the floor to return to starting position, extending your elbows.
Complete 2 to 4 sets of 8 to 20 repetitions.

Stop doing this exercise if you feel pain in your wrists, elbows, or shoulders.

Tips on technique

Like all exercises, decline pushups require proper form to effectively work your muscles.

Proper technique also helps you avoid pain and injury.

Keep your back straight throughout the entire move. To avoid arching your back, tilt your pelvis backward. Engage your core and glutes to stabilize your spine.

You should also look down — instead of up — to maintain a neutral neck. Make sure your back and neck are aligned at all times.

To protect your shoulders, avoid flaring out your elbows. Always keep them at 45 degrees.

Decline pushup benefits

The main benefit of doing decline pushups is building strong upper chest muscles.

In a decline pushup, your arms push up and away from your torso.

This movement works your upper pecs and the muscles in your shoulders.

When done regularly, decline pushups will help increase your overall upper-body strength. A strong upper body is essential for everyday activities like lifting groceries and carrying a backpack.

Decline pushup modifications

You can modify the decline pushup according to your fitness level, preferences, and goals.

Adjustments will also keep your workout interesting and fun.

With the following variations, you can enjoy the benefits of decline pushups in different ways.

Make it easier

Use a low bench or step to make decline pushups easier. The surface should be an inch or two off the ground.

If you’re having trouble with decline pushups, practice your regular pushups first. Once you’ve mastered the basic version, try the decline pushup.

Make it harder

To make the decline pushup harder, place your feet on a higher surface. You can also put them on a wall to do an advanced wall pushup.

Another option is to wear a weighted belt or vest, which increases the amount of weight you need to lift.

Here are more ways to challenge yourself:

One-leg pushups. Keep one leg lifted while doing decline pushups. Repeat with the other leg to complete one set.
One-arm pushups. Place one arm behind your back.
Stability ball pushups. Put your hands on a stability ball instead of the floor. Engage your arms and core to stay balanced.
Knee tap pushups. After each pushup, bend your knee toward your elbow. Alternate sides in between pushups.
Dumbbell pushup rows. Place each hand on a dumbbell. After you do a pushup, pull one dumbbell upward, then repeat with the other side.
Clap pushups. In the upward phase, push up explosively while keeping your body straight. Clap while you’re in the air and gently land.

These modifications are advanced moves, so you might want to try them with basic pushups first. Talk to a personal trainer for one-on-one guidance.

Focus on different muscles

You can also change the position of your arms and hands to target different muscles.

These muscles include:

Triceps. A narrow pushup, where your hands are placed close together, increases activity in your triceps.
Chest and shoulders. Placing your hands wider than a normal pushup focuses on the chest and shoulders.
Biceps. To increase biceps activity, rotate your wrists and forearms to point your fingers back. This version can be hard on the wrists, so it’s important to practice proper form.

These positions might feel awkward at first, so it’s best to work with a personal trainer to avoid injury.

Other moves and benefits

Performing decline pushups isn’t the only way to work your upper pecs and shoulders. You can also do the incline bench press, which involves the same muscles.

In this exercise, you lift a weight away from your body as you lay on an inclined bench.

Due to the upward angle, your arms push against resistance while moving up and away from your torso. It’s the same movement as a decline pushup.

To balance your workout, complement your decline pushups with pullups.

Whereas pushups target the chest and triceps, pullups work the back and biceps.

By doing both pushups and pullups, you can evenly workout the muscles in your upper torso and arms.

Pushup muscles

A basic pushup is one of the best exercises for developing upper-body strength. It uses your body weight as resistance.

The pushup works the following muscles:

pectoral muscles (chest)
anterior and medial deltoids (shoulders)
triceps brachii (back of arms)
abdominals (core)
serratus anterior (under your armpit)

You can do decline pushups to switch things up.

Incline pushups are easier than basic pushups, while decline pushups are harder. The downward angle of a decline pushup forces you to lift more of your body weight.

Once you’ve mastered the incline and basic pushups, give the decline pushup a shot. It’s an awesome exercise for challenging your upper chest and shoulders.

The takeaway

As an intermediate exercise, the decline pushup takes time to perfect. You’ll want to master incline and regular pushups before trying this move.

If you’re new to pushups, or if you’re recovering from an injury, consult a personal trainer. They can show you modifications and help you stay safe while doing pushups.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

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Medically reviewed by Gregory Minnis, DPT — Written by Kirsten Nunez on May 24, 2019

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