A push-down is a

strength training Strength training, also known as weight training or resistance training, is exercise designed to improve physical strength. It is often associated with the lifting of Weightlifting, weights. It can also incorporate techniques such as bodyweigh ...

exercise used for strengthening the

triceps The triceps, or triceps brachii (Latin for "three-headed muscle of the arm"), is a large muscle on the ventral, back of the upper limb of many vertebrates. It consists of three parts: the medial, lateral, and long head. All three heads cross the ...

muscles in the back of the arm. This exercise can also be called a triceps push-down or a two-armed standing triceps extension. The exercise is completed by pushing an object downward against resistance. This exercise is an example of the primary function of the triceps, the extension of the

elbow joint The elbow is the region between the upper arm and the forearm that surrounds the elbow joint. The elbow includes prominent landmarks such as the olecranon, the cubital fossa (also called the chelidon, or the elbow pit), and the lateral and the ...

. There are multiple variations to the push-down that will target the triceps muscle in different ways. Rope push-down is a variation that involves connecting a rope attachment to a

cable machine A cable machine is an item of equipment used in weight training or functional training. It consists of a rectangular, vertically oriented steel frame about 3 metres wide and 2 metres high, with a weight stack attached via a cable and pulley syste ...

. While executing a rope push-down, the palms face in and the arms internally rotate while pushing down. This variation works all three parts of the

, but especially the lateral head (coloured yellow Figure 2). Triceps brachii muscle07

Straight bar push-down is a variation that involves connecting a straight bar attachment to a

. In executing this variation, the bar is gripped with the knuckles facing up and the elbows are held close to the body. This variation targets the long head of the triceps (coloured red in Figure 2). V-bar push-down is a combination of a rope push-down and a straight bar push-down. This variation uses a V-bar attachment connected to a

and is executed with the elbows held close to the body.. This variation targets all three heads of the triceps. Push-downs can also be executed with resistance bands, alternating single-armed, and with varying grips.

References

Weight training exercises {{sports-stub