Can you do enough push ups by age?

I am unable to do push ups or floor yoga anymore--arthritis in my wrists causes pain with any pressure. I have even tried cushions/rolled towels for support from the yoga instructor to ease the pain/pressure.
I do wall pushups instead, not as much pressure but still some resistance for my muscles/strength.
 
Have been doing pushups for exercise the last few years (after slowing down with weights). At 68, I still do 4 sets of 50 several days a week.
 
Aerides said:
If you aren't already working on doing push ups, then, no, 10 or 12 isn't realistic for anyone.

It's a silly premise. It's like saying if you can't run 5 miles, or bench press half your body weight. If you don't do that thing AT ALL, then you can't do a benchmark of that thing. Sure, a fit, fast regular walker or hiker might manage a first time 5k run, stuff like that, but generally "can you do X physically exerting thing?" maybe not, but that doesn't really mean anything bad in and of itself.

If you haven't tried a push up in 10 years, chances are you can't do a dozen. If you trained and worked on them for a month or so, then, sure, you could.
Click to expand...
LOL a month would not be long enough for me. . . not overweight but deconditioned and was never athletic even when young. I'm working on it but it is an uphill battle. . .
 
Gallaher said:
I’m 64 do 30 everyday as part of my work out.
On a bet I could prolly do 40.
Just wish push ups could make me smarter
Click to expand...
There are studies that show resistance training improves cognition and mental health.

I just wish I was smart enough to exercise regularly throughout my entire life. Oh well.
 
Yes, I can still do 12 pushup at 63. I will say that I started an alternating daily upper and lower body weight workout schedule in August. The first couple of weeks I only did 5 pushups per set so that my arms and shoulders could adapt.
 
Aerides said:
If you aren't already working on doing push ups, then, no, 10 or 12 isn't realistic for anyone.

It's a silly premise. It's like saying if you can't run 5 miles, or bench press half your body weight. If you don't do that thing AT ALL, then you can't do a benchmark of that thing. Sure, a fit, fast regular walker or hiker might manage a first time 5k run, stuff like that, but generally "can you do X physically exerting thing?" maybe not, but that doesn't really mean anything bad in and of itself.

If you haven't tried a push up in 10 years, chances are you can't do a dozen. If you trained and worked on them for a month or so, then, sure, you could.
Click to expand...
It's not silly, it's just a measurement of your strength and fitness at the current time. Everyone that's fit can easily reach minimum fitness benchmarks.

If a healthy person can't do the benchmark then maybe they need to start exercising?
 
badatmath said:
LOL a month would not be long enough for me. . . not overweight but deconditioned and was never athletic even when young. I'm working on it but it is an uphill battle. . .
Click to expand...
You'd be surprised. How about you take that up as a challenge? Start today, report back in a month.

Don't start just literally trying to do a push up from the floor. Start with walls or from a prop. Start from your knees. Get a 10 lb and 20 lb set of dumbbells and do overhead presses and other exercises for your shoulders. Cheap, easy.

Or don't, but it's not hard to go from, as they say, couch to barbell.
 
I'm relieved that the numbers for 55 are that low! :) I can actually do the 12 prescribed. This even though athletically I'm a cyclist and former runner, which means less upper body strength by definition. (Hell, pro cyclists purposely keep super thin up top.) I'm more partial to planks. In any case, as many have suggested above, we all have our strengths, and the body's ability to adapt is remarkable.
 
Age 54 male, I do 25 pushups most mornings. I sometimes forget (but that is a different aging issue).
 
Aerides said:
You'd be surprised. How about you take that up as a challenge? Start today, report back in a month.

Don't start just literally trying to do a push up from the floor. Start with walls or from a prop. Start from your knees. Get a 10 lb and 20 lb set of dumbbells and do overhead presses and other exercises for your shoulders. Cheap, easy.

Or don't, but it's not hard to go from, as they say, couch to barbell.
Click to expand...
I can't lift 10 or 20 lbs, period. I've been in physical therapy for months. . . 3 different people, a lot of "homework" and not a lot of progress. . . it has been very frustrating and (yes I've seen PCP to confirm no traces of a dread disease or deficiency we didn't know about). I did wall pushups and counter top ones for a bit but I don't have anything the next lower level I can think of. Either the furniture slides or I do (no carpet). Push ups weren't why I sought therapy but I definitely am not in optimal shape. I did learn I have a problem with my scapula I've working on only a few weeks - maybe it will help.
 
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More Cowbell said:
Can you hold plank on your forearms?
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I can but it is somewhat painful on the left shoulder blade which gives out before the abs are tired. But I'm trying to go a bit longer each day.

Working an office job over 33 years and hanging out with sedentary people . . . I thought I was doing okay without ever really thinking much about it at all. Another of my mistakes in life. . . and it is a long list . .
 
badatmath said:
I can but it is somewhat painful on the left shoulder blade which gives out before the abs are tired. But I'm trying to go a bit longer each day.

Working an office job over 33 years and hanging out with sedentary people . . . I thought I was doing okay without ever really thinking much about it at all. Another of my mistakes in life. . . and it is a long list . .
Click to expand...
Give yourself some grace! You’re coming from a background where body awareness and movement wasn’t a priority. Yeah, 33 years ago would have been the best time to get started on your fitness journey, but the second best time is now.

Consider a consultation from a specialist regarding your left shoulder.

Since you can do a plank supported on your forearms, see if you can lift one arm, place the hand palm down under the shoulder, extend your arm into the ground, then do the same with the other arm to get to push up position, then reverse the actions to return to plank.

I have osteoarthritis at the base of both thumbs and get searing pain in the standard palm down pushup position. I sometimes modify to push up on my fists (can’t do too many like that, rough on my fingers) or grip the edge of a Reebok Step (or similar) which is much more stable and easier on my hands than pushup bars. Chest presses are another alternative. Or I’ll do the plank exercise just described, or just hold plank while the rest of the class is doing pushups.

Remember, baby steps are still progress! Hang in there!
 
This thread motivated me to give it a try. I have had nerve problems in both arms that needed surgeries and recovery has been slow. I had not done a push-up in 16 months, when my problems started (I suddenly couldn't even extend my arm).

I couldn't do any upper body work until about six months ago when I was recovered enough from the last surgery to start. I tried to do pushups as recently as 4 months ago, but couldn't bend the wrist enough, so have done other exercises to try to re-strengthen the shoulders, arms & chest as best I could.

I was stunned that when I tried pushups today, I had no pain and did 37. Thrilled with the result!
 
Just did enough to max my age group, ouch. Back in the 80’s would routinely hit the Army Physical Readiness Test max for my age with 71 in two minutes. Those days are long gone.
 
Same here. I thought I had to do 78 pushups in 2 minutes, but I may not be remembering correctly. I know it was in the 70s.

After being in a few years, here was my routine:
Morning PT
Manual labor all day
Get off work and do 3 sets of 50 pushups with my feet on my bunk
Shower
Dinner
Beers
 
imjustawarrior said:
Same here. I thought I had to do 78 pushups in 2 minutes, but I may not be remembering correctly. I know it was in the 70s.

After being in a few years, here was my routine:
Morning PT
Manual labor all day
Get off work and do 3 sets of 50 pushups with my feet on my bunk
Shower
Dinner
Beers
Click to expand...
Yeah, might have been. My ability to max the PT test isn’t the only thing that has slipped away in last 40 years.
 
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