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Suspension Trainer Push-Up

Intermediate
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A suspension trainer variation of the push-up that targets the chest, triceps, and shoulders. It is used to build upper body strength and core stability, commonly scaled by adjusting foot placement and body angle.

About Exercise

Equipment

Suspension Trainer

Difficulty

3/5 • Intermediate

Primary Muscle Groups

Chest, Triceps, Shoulders

Secondary Muscles

Obliques, Glutes, Lower Back

Popularity Score

7

Goals

Strength
Hypertrophy
Stability

Training Style

Functional Training
Calisthenics

Setup Requirements

Requires Rack

No

Requires Bench

No

Requires Spotter

No

Space Needed

Medium

Noise Level

Low

Muscle Breakdown

Chest

10/10

Mid Chest, Lower Chest

Triceps

9/10

Lateral Head, Medial Head

Shoulders

8/10

Anterior Delts

Abs

7/10

Rectus Abdominis

Obliques

5/10

External Obliques

Glutes

4/10

Glute Max

Lower Back

3/10

Erector Spinae

Programming

Typical Rep Range

8-20 reps

Rest Between Sets

60-90 seconds

How to Perform

Adjust the suspension straps to mid-calf or knee height. Face away from the anchor point, grasp the handles, and walk your feet back to assume a plank position with arms extended.

  1. Brace your core and glutes to maintain a rigid straight line from head to heels.
  2. Lower your chest toward the handles by bending your elbows and retracting shoulder blades.
  3. Descend until your chest is level with your hands.
  4. Press through your palms to extend your arms and return to the starting position.
  5. Keep the straps from scraping against your arms during the movement.

Coaching Tips

Form Cues

  • Body like a plank
  • Core tight
  • Elbows 45 degrees
  • Don't let hips sag
  • Push away from floor

Breathing

Inhale as you lower your body, exhale as you press back up.

Tempo

3-1-1

Range of Motion

Lower until the chest is aligned with the handles; extend arms fully at the top without locking out forcefully.

Safety

Safety Notes

  • Ensure anchor point is secure
  • Maintain neutral wrist position
  • Stop if you feel sharp shoulder pain

Spotting

Not recommended; step forward to reduce difficulty if needed.

Common Mistakes

  • Hips sagging
  • Straps rubbing arms
  • Elbows flaring too wide
  • Neck jutting forward

When to Avoid

  • Shoulder impingement
  • Wrist injuries
  • Lower back issues

Flexibility Needed

  • Shoulder flexion above 90 degrees
  • Ankle dorsiflexion for plank

Build Up First

  • Basic push-up form
  • Core stability competency

Also known as

TRX Push-Up, Suspension Push-Up, Strap Push-Up, Suspension Chest Press

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