Hurts the face when doing pushups

[United We Fall]

When I do a pushup my face starts to hurt like fish crap and it causes me to automatically get up from the floor. Also I have a very hard time doing pushup, because I have hardly ANY arm strength. What are some other exercises without pushups or equipment are there to workout the arms?

[fighting13]

start off just holding a push up position with good form for as long as you can. right before you give out try to do a couple of push ups or half push ups. do this 5-10 times during a workout every day with only 30 seconds of rest between each. once you can start doing push ups i suggest doing a set of pyramids. thats where you do 2 push ups,rest 30 sec., 4 push ups., rest 30 sec., and so on until you get to about 10 and then go backwards. that should help you with your push ups.


also a little tip for actually doing push ups, use your fingers to grip the ground hard like your trying to lift your body with the fingers. this incorporates more of the muscles in your forearms and makes the push ups easier

[Reakt]

When I do a pushup my face starts to hurt like fish crap and it causes me to automatically get up from the floor. Also I have a very hard time doing pushup, because I have hardly ANY arm strength. What are some other exercises without pushups or equipment are there to workout the arms?

Your "face starts to hurt like fish crap" :confused: Interesting...

Well... Wanting to increase muscle strength without any equipment or pushups is kind of hard.... You could try pullups (buy a chin bar), or do pressups on your knee's.

To be honest if you don't go to a gym and get a proper routine with a good diet then don't expect your arms to get very much bigger anytime soon.

[Hapuka]

Sweet advice fighting13. I'm going to give that a go. :)

[tom pain]

When I do a pushup my face starts to hurt like fish crap

Don't let your face hit the floor then :)

[Jang Bong]

I've got to say Tom - that WAS my first thought. :D

I'm lousy at pressups myself, but doing them in class over the past 4 years it is (gradually) getting better.

As well as the half-press-up or knee-press-ups, if you have access to a set of stairs then you can do full action press-ups against a comfortable level step, then gradually work down the steps until you are back on the floor.

[Sparx]

Remeber to breath correctly when doing exercise. Many people to hold their breath in while doing pressups. This causes pressure in you're head and may result in your heald exploding......well maybe not that extreme but some people get bleading noses from incorect breathing while benching big weights.

[United We Fall]

Also whenever I do a pushup, I automatically pick myself up from the floor pending on the surface of the ground. If it's carpet and not a pad under my body it is VERY difficult to do a pushup. Its not that I want to get up, I just get up!

[ReeceLightning]

how much does fish crap hurt?

[United We Fall]

how much does fish crap hurt?


Pretty dang bad when you get slapped in the face by it.

[kensei1984]

Just wondering, do you have any medical conditions that you know of?
Has this just happened recently?
Also, does it hurt when you have your face in a floorward direction in general?

I'm just thinking that it could be acute sinusitis, which means that it should resolve.

[bcullen]

When I do a pushup my face starts to hurt like fish crap.

Anyone looking for a new sig? :D

[slipthejab]

Gotta say... this is the strangest thread ever. :D

[Gary]

My face used to hurt when I learnt to do clap behind the back pushups, a well placed pillow sorted that out though.

[ninjapiratecapn]

Anyone looking for a new sig? :D

I'll take it. :D

In any case, what has been mentioned is all good. Focus on doing push-ups from knees; that helped me the most when I started out and I was WEAK. Also, remember that it's not your arms, but your pectoral muscles that are doing the bulk of the work. Things like pull-ups won't help you in this case.

You might want to try bench pressing some weights until your strength builds up enough that you can do a bodyweight push-up.

[Socrastein]

Where are you getting the pain? Is it in your cheeks? Your forehead? Your jaw? Be very specific.

[prowla]

I used to get a pain in the eye whenever I had a cup of coffee - then somebody told me to take the teaspoon out of the cup! :D

But seriously, I find push-ups really increase the blood flow to my head. I would surmise that that could be the cause of your problems.

[Hiroji]

lol!

Another classic by united we fall!!

your my hero! you have surpassed korpy!! :D

[Moosey]

This is the funniest thread title in a long time!

[Reakt]

Anyone looking for a new sig? :D

Taken :p

[bcullen]

I can't help but think of the old joke:

You: Hey, does your face hurt?
Them: No, why?
You: Because it's killing us. :D

[Davey Bones]

I'm thinking the sinusitis/rhinitis, poor breathig technique and lack of upper body strength are caudsing your problems.

[United We Fall]

I'm thinking the sinusitis/rhinitis, poor breathig technique and lack of upper body strength are caudsing your problems.


Best answer yet. But could you go into detail why sinusitis/rhinitis, poor breathing technique and lack of upper body strength are causing causing this?

[Su lin]

sinusitis/rhinitis can cause your whole face to ache,I get it and believe me,it does. When you tilt your head or put your face down it can hurt even more. Coupled with poor upper body strength you could be in for a very uncomfortable time when doing press ups.

[Davey Bones]

Best answer yet. But could you go into detail why sinusitis/rhinitis, poor breathing technique and lack of upper body strength are causing causing this?

*sigh*... you are so lucky I have allergies and a personal trainer.

Poor breathing: Holding your breath (which I bet you're not even aware of) is bad. Let me repeat, BAD. You need to breathe out as you push up, take a breath as you go down. Move slowly and with your breath. Poor breathing, as noted by other posters, can cause nose bleeds, lightheadedness, and other not-so-fun feelings while exercising.

Lack of upper body strength: this ought to be obvious. If you have to, do push-ups from the kneeling position until you gain some strength. You need to develop strength in your upper body and your core to do push ups properly, so if you have to modify them, so be it. Your instructor should be able to show you how. You're working extra hard, and when combined with poor breathing techniques... you get the picture.

Sinusitis/rhinitis: do you have allergies or get a lot of sinus infections? "Sinus cavities" usually refers to the paranasal sinuses, which are air cavities in the cranial bones, especially those near the nose and connecting to it... People with allergies or chronic sinus inflamation will get nasty headaches, facial pain, and other odd sensations, especially when exercising. Trust me, I know, I have wicked allergies. Coimbine that with the above two issues, and you have lots of pain and not-so-good feelings.

I'd go see a doctor to get a better handle on this. I can tell you how to breathe and what you can do to build stronger muscles, but I can't really diagnos you with a medical problem.

[Sgt_Major]

Not sure if this is mentioned before, but have you checked your breathing when doing the push up?

Holding it in will be detrimental.... breathe in on the way up, and out on the way down.... EVERY time!

Edit: I see GC and I breathe differently when doing push ups... interesting!

[Gary]

I breathe out on the way up, I try to breathe out with the concentric portion of most exercises anyway.

[Davey Bones]

Not sure if this is mentioned before, but have you checked your breathing when doing the push up?

Holding it in will be detrimental.... breathe in on the way up, and out on the way down.... EVERY time!

Edit: I see GC and I breathe differently when doing push ups... interesting!


You breathe in on the muscle contraction? Hmmm... interesting.

[doc_jude]

You breathe in on the muscle contraction? Hmmm... interesting.

Are you doing standard push-ups or dands (Hindu PUs). Maybe Divebombers?

[Sgt_Major]

You breathe in on the muscle contraction? Hmmm... interesting.

yeah, its weird, I just tried the other way, and it near killed me! I tired a LOT faster than normal, I find it best with push ups if I breathe in on the way up, and out on the way down.

[Ad McG]

That's pretty odd, most people do it the other way round. It's also physiologically a little easier, so I can't understand why you couldn't last as long :confused:

[Moosey]

That's pretty odd, most people do it the other way round. It's also physiologically a little easier, so I can't understand why you couldn't last as long :confused:
I do it the same way as Sarge. Find it much easier. I get out of breath if I do it the other way.

[Orangeseger]

You could try doing push-ups while standing, having your body leaning towards a wall. (If you want to get your pecs in shape, do this facing a corner, to get more range of motion.)

This takes off a lot of weight, and you can stand farther back to increase it. I would mix this idea with knee (modified) push-ups to build strength and endurance.


Your face hurts? Hmmm...I know my head used to hurt a bout a year ago when I did them and I did not know why...if this is just recently it might go away..but don't take chances. I agree with a few others here, you might not be breathing correctly, or holding your breath.



Good luck, I hope your problem is resolved soon.

[United We Fall]

I think Hindu Pushups are a bit easier to do then most pushups I have done? Why so?

[doc_jude]

I think Hindu Pushups are a bit easier to do then most pushups I have done? Why so?

I believe that it has to do with the ROM that you move through when doing dands. Most if not all of the pectoral is being adressed, the deltoid, the trapezius, lats are being addressed moreso than a standard pushup.
The stress is spread-loaded abit more.

I could be wrong, of course...

I think that this may be why they are such a great overall exercise, given the fact that they involve so much of the upper body's musculature.

[tetsu ryu]

When I do a pushup my face starts to hurt like fish crap and it causes me to automatically get up from the floor. Also I have a very hard time doing pushup, because I have hardly ANY arm strength. What are some other exercises without pushups or equipment are there to workout the arms?

do you hold your breath when you do them? That "hurting like fish crap," feeling is probably your blood vessels about to burst in your face. Breathe, relax, and crank em out in a fluid motion. How many are you able to get in pushups? "You succeed by failing." Push yourself man. You'll get there.

[RD-KSW]

I think Hindu Pushups are a bit easier to do then most pushups I have done? Why so?


How to you do Hindu Pushups??? :confused:
I am intrigued...=D