Single Arm Push-Up
- Primary musclePectorals
- EquipmentBodyweight
- DifficultyAdvanced
- TypeCompound · Push
One hand behind your back, feet spread wide for a stable base, and the entire press belongs to a single arm; this is the end point that the archer and single arm raise variations build toward. Singles and doubles per side are legitimate working sets here, not a cop-out.
How to do the Single Arm Push-Up
- Start in a push-up position with your hands shoulder-width apart and one hand placed slightly wider than the other.
- Engage your core and lower your body towards the ground by bending your elbows, keeping your back straight.
- As you lower yourself, shift your weight to one side and lift the opposite arm off the ground, extending it straight out to the side.
- Push through your chest and triceps to raise your body back up to the starting position, while simultaneously lowering your extended arm back to the ground.
- Repeat the movement, alternating the arm you extend with each repetition.
Tip: Screw your hands into the floor as if turning the fingers outward to set the shoulders before each set.
Muscles worked
Primary
Pectorals · Chest
The chest drives the arms together as you push, and it is loaded most in the bottom half of the rep when the elbows are bent.
Secondary
- Triceps — The triceps finish the rep by locking the elbows, and they do more work the narrower your hands are.
- Delts — The front delts assist the chest, especially on decline variations where the feet are elevated.
- Abs — The abs hold the body rigid so the hips do not sag, which is why a push-up is also a moving plank.
Common mistakes
- Hips sagging or piked — the body should stay a straight line from head to heels; squeeze the glutes and brace the abs before each rep.
- Elbows flared to 90 degrees — flaring the arms out wide loads the shoulder joint; keep the elbows tucked to about 45 degrees from the torso.
- Cutting the bottom short — chest should come to within a fist of the floor; if that means fewer reps, do fewer reps.
- Head dropping first — the chin reaching for the floor makes it look like a rep when it is not; keep the head neutral and lead with the chest.
Sets, reps and where it fits
| Goal | Sets × reps | Rest |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | 4–5 × 3–6 per side | 2–3 min |
| Muscle growth | 3–4 × 6–12 per side | 90–120 s |
| Endurance | 2–3 × 12–20 per side | 60 s |
Push-ups work as a warm-up before bench press, as a finisher after chest work or as the main push exercise when training with no equipment. Superset them with inverted rows or a band pull-apart for balance.
Variations and alternatives
Similar exercises
Without bodyweight
Frequently asked questions
What muscles does the Single Arm Push-Up work?
The Single Arm Push-Up primarily works the pectorals. It also involves the triceps, delts and abs, which assist the movement and stabilise the joints.
Is the Single Arm Push-Up good for beginners?
Not as a starting point. The Single Arm Push-Up is rated advanced because it demands strength, mobility or coordination that takes time to build. Beginners should work up to it through the easier variations listed on this page.
What can I do instead of the Single Arm Push-Up?
If you cannot do the Single Arm Push-Up, try the Single Arm Elevated Medicine Ball Push-Up, the Hands on Ball Stability Ball Push-Up or the Feet on Ball Stability Ball Push-Up. Each of them trains the pectorals through a similar movement, so you can swap them in without changing the rest of the workout.
How many sets and reps should I do?
It depends on your goal. For the Single Arm Push-Up, a sensible starting point is strength: 4–5 × 3–6 per side with 2–3 min rest; muscle growth: 3–4 × 6–12 per side with 90–120 s rest; endurance: 2–3 × 12–20 per side with 60 s rest. Put it early in the session while you are fresh, before isolation work for the same muscles.
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