I can't do a single Push-Up?

Question

Well, i can't do a single push up. By push up i mean elbows going to 90 degrees and pushing back up. i've been doing knee push ups for months, and they are super easy, i can do 3 claps (even if i go slow.) But if i want to do a full Push up my arms give out around 45 degrees.

I am 5 foot 8 inches, and weigh 168 lbs, please help!

Answer 1

Try doing push ups on stairs.  Stand at the base of the stairs and do push ups on a higher stair, and slowly over matters of days work your way down to lower stairs.  

This is actually my dad's trick.  One of his buddies that he was in basic training with couldn't do push ups.

Answer 2

the first person took the words right out of my mouth.  But another thing you can do is start lifting weights.  Once you start that push ups will be so jokingly easier you won't even wanna do them anymore

Answer 3

Cut out all those french fries and sodas and try salads and fruit for three months and you will be amazed at what you can do!

Answer 4

I had the same problem when I first joined the army. My problem was my form. If you are doing knee push ups easily I bet you can do a lot of push ups if you perform them properly. Pay less attention to what your arms are doing and more attention on keeping your back straight in line with your hips. You might be letting your hips sag toward the floor or they may be higher than your shoulders. In other words, don't let your shoulders rise above or below your hips/buttocks. Try to keep a straight plane. Keep your head up...look forward. Looking down allows your head to fall forward, causing extension of your upper back (muscles, that need to contract to assist your arms). You can still do them properly while hanging your head, but it also makes it harder to keep your body straight & reach a 90 degree arm plane. Some people have trouble doing wide-arm or close-arm push-ups. Do what's comfortable for you in the beginning. You should get a mirror & look at your body position. You can get a full length one at places like Walmart for $5. It's amazing that there is so much of a difference in what it FEELS as though your doing versus what you REALLY are doing.