Load sharing between the palm and knuckles with cradle-style push-up handles

Abstract

Push-up handles that distribute load between the palm and dorsal metacarpophalangeal region have been developed in an effort to increase comfort and reduce risk of injury for some users compared with floor push-ups (whether on palms or knuckles) and push-ups with handles currently on the market. A broad, flat, angled palm support places the wrist at a more neutral angle than palms-on-floor push-ups, and at a more consistent angle than a tubular handle would. The angle also allows a shifting of weight so the dorsal metacarpophalangeal region effectively engages a strap, providing the load sharing. The strap also functions as a safety device, to help prevent hand slippage. Using the measurement and form protocols described in this paper, wrist extension in the up position was 42° with the cradle handles and 60° with palms-on-floor push-ups. Across four tested hand-engagement/body-position conditions, the dorsal hand bore 8.2%–21.3% of the total load on the subject’s hand.