Banded Push Up

The banded push up runs a resistance band under the hips and anchors it beneath the hands, so the band supports part of your bodyweight through the movement. What makes it a better regression than dropping to the knees is where the help arrives. A band stretches most at the bottom of the push up, which is exactly where the movement is hardest and where most beginners fail, and it gives back almost nothing at the top where you are already strong. The body also stays in one straight line from head to heels, so the core keeps working and the pattern you practise is the full push up rather than a different exercise. Reduce the assistance by choosing a lighter band rather than by cutting the range, and move to the unassisted version once you can complete your target repetitions cleanly.