any apft pointers?

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although I am in relatively good shape, I have never been tested, I am 43 y/o and I have never done a pushup in my life. where do you learn how to do this. right now it is not so hot, to pass I only need to do 12 to get a score of 60 on that the other 2 parameters I should be okay. how do you learn to do a push up

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Specializes in Neuro, Surgical, Trauma and ICU..

I have been doing stew smith workouts he is a personal trainer and he also is the fitness expert on military.com.

http://www.stewsmith.com/linkpages/about.htm

I like it because he has a good 6-12 week program to build you up.

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Straight from 21-20:

"The push-up event measures the endurance of the chest, shoulder, and triceps muscles. On the command ‘get set,’ assume the front-leaning rest position by placing your hands where they are comfortable for you. Your feet may be together or up to 12 inches apart. When viewed from the side, your body should form a generally straight line from your shoulders to your ankles. On the command ‘go,’ begin the push-up by bending your elbows and lowering your entire body as a single unit until your upper arms are at least parallel to the ground. Then, return to the starting position by raising your entire body until your arms are fully extended. Your body must remain rigid in a generally straight line and move as a unit while performing each repetition. At the end of each repetition, the scorer will state the number of repetitions you have completed correctly. If you fail to keep your body generally straight, to lower your whole body until your upper arms are at least parallel to the ground, or to extend your arms completely, that repetition will not count, and the scorer will repeat the number of the last correctly performed repetition. If you fail to perform the first ten push-ups correctly, the scorer will tell you to go to your knees and will explain to you what your mistakes are. You will then be sent to the end of the line to be retested. After the first 10 push-ups have been performed and counted, however, no restarts are allowed. The test will continue, and any incorrectly performed push-ups will not be counted. An altered, front-leaning rest position is the only authorized rest position. That is, you may sag in the middle or flex your back. When flexing your back, you may bend your knees, but not to such an extent that you are supporting most of your body weight with your legs. If this occurs, your performance will be terminated. You must return to, and pause in, the correct starting position before continuing. If you rest on the ground or raise either hand or foot from the ground, your performance will be terminated. You may reposition your hands and/or feet during the event as long as they remain in contact with the ground at all times. Correct performance is important. You will have two minutes in which to do as many push-ups as you can."

Remember that only correctly performed repititions count; so practice the form.

Also, if you have exceptionally long arms, it helps if you start out with a really wide palm placement and move inward.

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You tube has army examples of the push up and sit up as well.

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And the sit-up standards:

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lol...

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Specializes in ICU- adults, Flight RN peds/neo.
although I am in relatively good shape, I have never been tested, I am 43 y/o and I have never done a pushup in my life. where do you learn how to do this. right now it is not so hot, to pass I only need to do 12 to get a score of 60 on that the other 2 parameters I should be okay. how do you learn to do a push up

Wow,

You are lucky! How did you manage to never do one push-up throughout school? I am envious.....:) I clearly went to the wrong schools:D

12 is not so bad...... just now you will be wanting to do "the max" of 34..... aughhh, the taste of competition!

good luck,

c.

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If you have a hard time doing pushups, let your knees touch the ground instead of your toes touching the ground. Pushups are much easier this way. Once you build strength, you can start doing them on your toes.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Hey Patty,

When are you planning on going to OBLC??

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Specializes in Cardiac Tele, Cath Lab, ICU, ICUSD.

Yeah Patty, when are you planning OBLC?? If/when I get in, Im shooting for October. We should all try and go together.

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Specializes in ER/Critical Care.

i am looking at October, too... i really dislike the heat.... we should try to go together

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