How do I help my clients do push-ups when they complain that it hurts their wrists?
Here are a couple quick assessments and tricks I’ve learned in my yoga teacher training school that might also help. Since it’s yoga-based, it’s relevant for push-ups done on the ground, but not with Equalizers, Perfect Push-up, or other equipment.
1) Look where the wrist crease is. Ensure the exerciser’s wrist creases are pointing forward. Then place the elbows and shoulder blades after positioning the wrists.
2) Instead of right over the wrists, place the shoulders very slightly behind the wrists. Not a lot, just enough to soften the angle of pressure.
3) Make a little pad out of the yoga mat and place the heels of the hands on the raised pad. Again, softens the angle of pressure.
4) Ensure client is pushing down with entire hand. No white-knuckled finger pads. Not just in the heel of the hand. Pres the top of the palm down and have that take some of the weight.