Shoulder exercises

Handstand Push-up

Also known as: Pompes en équilibre sur les mains · Κάμψεις σε κατακόρυφο (χειροστασία) · Handstand Push-Ups · HSPU · wall handstand push-up

Primary
Shoulders
Equipment
Bodyweight
Level
Advanced
Type
Compound
Force
Push
Suggested rest
1.5 min

How to do the Handstand Push-up

  1. With your back to the wall bend at the waist and place both hands on the floor at shoulder width.

  2. Kick yourself up against the wall with your arms straight. Your body should be upside down with the arms and legs fully extended. Keep your whole body as straight as possible. Tip: If doing this for the first time, have a spotter help you. Also, make sure that you keep facing the wall with your head, rather than looking down.

  3. Slowly lower yourself to the ground as you inhale until your head almost touches the floor. Tip: It is of utmost importance that you come down slow in order to avoid head injury.

  4. Push yourself back up slowly as you exhale until your elbows are nearly locked.

  5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

Sets and reps

GoalSetsRepsRest
Muscle growth3–46–151.5 min
Muscular endurance2–315–201 min

When you hit the top of the rep range on every set, add a rep or a harder variation next session.

Starting points from training research. Stop each set 1–3 reps short of failure.

Muscles worked

Primary

Shoulders

Secondary

Triceps

Three heads, three jobs: the front delts press, the side delts raise your arms out and give width, the rear delts pull back. Train all three.

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