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EFFECTS OF ANGLE VARIATIONS IN SUSPENSION

PUSH-UP EXERCISE
IRFAN GULMEZ
Department of Coaches Education, School of Physical Education and Sports, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey

ABSTRACT Push-up exercises with TRX are performed by altering


the degree of body angles from the prone position or by
Gulmez, I. Effects of angle variations in suspension push-up
changing the height of the TRX straps from the ground
exercise. J Strength Cond Res 31(4): 1017–1023, 2017—This
level. In this type of exercise, the body weight is used
study aimed to determine and compare the amount of loads on
against the gravity to perform multiplanar and multijoint
the TRX Suspension Trainer (TRX) straps and ground reaction
resistance training (16,19). To accommodate resistance
forces at 4 different angles during TRX push-ups. Twenty-eight requirements of users, TRX straps are manipulated by
male (mean age, 24.1 6 2.9 years; height, 179.4 6 8.0 m; modifying length, angles of push-pull, and body posi-
weight, 78.8 6 9.8 kg) physical education and sports university tions. With TRX, the loads encountered during the exer-
students participated in this study. The subjects were tested at cise are percentages of the user’s body mass. This is
TRX angles (0, 15, 30, 458) during the TRX push-ups. Force important, as the degree of resistance experienced during
data were recorded by a force platform and load cells inte- resistance exercise is the basis of appropriate exercise
grated into the TRX straps. The results show that as the TRX prescription (14,17).
angle was reduced, the load applied to the TRX straps When resistance training exercises are performed with
increased and simultaneously the load measured by the force explicitly labeled masses like dumbbells, weight plates,
platform decreased. This was true for both the elbow joint and machines, training volume and intensity are calcu-
changing from flexion to extension and vice versa. When the lated easily as a percentage of maximum loads (11). How-
TRX angle was set at 08 and subjects’ elbows were at exten- ever, the quantification of intensity and load in
suspension training systems such as TRX push-up is
sion during TRX push-up, 50.4% of the subjects’ body weight,
challenging.
and when the elbows were at flexion, 75.3% of the body
There are many studies on push-ups, performed with different
weight was registered by the sensors on the TRX straps. The
hand positions (9,10,12,13,23,24) on different platforms and sur-
results of this study can be used in the calculation of the train-
faces (1,4,15) and also using suspension systems with muscle
ing load and volume (resistance training programming) during activation (2,8,16,17,19–21).
TRX push-up exercises at varying angles. During standard push-ups, ground reaction forces reached
up to 69% of body weight while the elbows were extended,
KEY WORDS TRX, resistance training, force
and up to 75% of body weight while elbows were at flexion
(10,12,13,18,22). When the hands were elevated on
INTRODUCTION

U
a 30.5-cm box, ground reaction forces dropped to 55% of
se of unstable training devices such as suspension body weight, and to 41% of body weight when the hands
systems for health and to enhance athletic perfor- were elevated on a 61.0-cm box (11).
mance are increasingly becoming popular (3–5). Melrose and Dawes (17) investigated loads during
In particular, suspension systems are used and a 5-second static hanging position performed at 4 different
adapted by trainers to implement resistance training, providing body angles, extending elbows until subjects reached the
users with numerous upper-body and lower-body exercise supine position. This study revealed that as the angle
options (8,16). The TRX suspension system (TRX) is one such increased from 30 to 758 between the subject and the
device that is used for purposes ranging from athletic condi- ground, the subjects’ arms encountered body mass resistance
tioning to general fitness and rehabilitation (7,17). between 37.4 and 79.4%.
There is no likewise study to assess the load on upper and
Address correspondence to Irfan Gulmez, irfan.gulmez@marmara. lower extremities during TRX push-ups at different angles.
edu.tr. For this reason, it is vital to compare the impact on the upper
31(4)/1017–1023 and lower extremities during the TRX push-ups. The aim of
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research this study was to assess the loads at different TRX angles as
Ó 2016 National Strength and Conditioning Association recorded by the ground force platform and the load cells

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TRX Suspension Push-Up

METHODS
Experimental Approach to the Problem
This research was designed to determine the loads applied
to the lower and upper extremities during TRX push-up
exercises with various angles. The highest loads were
recorded when elbows are in flexion and in extension. The
effects on the load difference with the angle changes were
evaluated. The dependent variables consisted of data re-
corded from the force platform, load cells (via straps). The
independent variables were the 4 different vertical angles of
the TRX push-ups.
Subjects
Twenty-eight male physical education and sports university
students (mean age = 24.1 6 2.9 years, height = 179.4 6
8.0 m, weight = 78.8 6 9.8 kg) voluntarily participated in this
study. Subjects had a minimum 1 year of resistance training
experience, performing at least 2 sessions per week and
a minimum of 3 months of suspension training experience,
using this kind of training at least 1 time per week. They had
no previous history of injuries of the upper and lower limbs in
the last 6 months preceding the study. All subject were right
handed. During the 08 TRX push-up application; 3 subjects
with the upper extremity showing mostly fasciculation
tremor, nonspecific pain complaint and/or insufficient stabili-
zation, were excluded from the study. They gave their
informed consent for the experimental procedure as required
by the Declaration of Helsinki (1964) and Marmara Univer-
sity’s ethics committee (Protocol: 0920140213, October
Figure 1. TRX suspension device. 10, 2014).
Procedure
Each subject took part in 2 sessions: familiarization and
attached to the straps. From these data, the percentage of experimental, both at the same hour during the morning.
body weight use was calculated, which provides guidance to The familiarization session was performed 48–72 hours
prescribe training programs. before the data collection in the experimental session.

Figure 2. Elbow extension positions during TRX push-up at different angles.

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TABLE 1. Values obtained from the TRX straps, force platform, and the differences as a percentage between flexion
and extension.

TRX strapsnorm (kg) Force platformnorm (kg)

Elbow flexion, Elbow extension, Elbow flexion, Elbow extension,


Angles mean 6 SD mean 6 SD mean 6 SD mean 6 SD

458 36.8 6 5.6 11.9 6 3.9 80.7 6 14.9 97.5 6 19.6


308 49.1 6 9.0 22.4 6 6.1 65.9 6 11.5 84.8 6 12.9
158 64.6 6 6.8 35.1 6 6.4 51.1 6 15.2 66.6 6 12.9
08 75.3 6 5.2 50.4 6 4.3 33.2 6 7.9 46.6 6 7.6
p 0.000* 0.000* 0.000* 0.000*

*Significant (p # 0.05).

Several restrictions were imposed on the volunteers: no strap mid length while standing on the force platform. Their
food, drinks, or stimulants (e.g., caffeine) to be consumed feet were positioned shoulder width apart. The subjects
4 hours before the sessions and no arduous physical activ- adopted a traditional push-up starting position with elbows
ities were allowed except daily routines 24 hours before at extension. They maintained this isometric contraction for
the exercises. The same investigators made all measure- 4 seconds while maintaining a neutral spine position. Then
ments during the morning and the procedures were always the subjects began the flexion phase of the push-up until the
conducted in the same laboratory (average temperature correct depth was reached (chest reaching the level of the
at 258 C). hands). Finally, the elbows were extended to full length
Before testing, participants were familiarized with the (starting position). This push-up exercise was repeated 5
push-up exercise on another TRX. Subjects practiced the times and the elbows were kept at extension for 4 seconds
exercises typically 5 times before tests. Height and body after the fifth run. This movement scheme was repeated for
weight were measured with Tanita model BF- 350 (digital all TRX angles, respectively (45, 30, 15, and 08). Subjects
scales (0.1 kg) for body weight and fat). rested 2 minutes between each test. A metronome (Quartz
The TRX suspension anchor (TRX angle) was set at right Metronome; Seiko Instruments Inc., Hong Kong, China) was
angle (908) with the ceiling and this alignment was referred to used to control the cadence of the push-up repetitions. Each
as the zero (08) angle reference point. The 4 different angles flexion and extension phase was performed in 1 second (1
were measured with a goniometer using 2 laser pointer light second up and 1 second down). Verbal feedback was given to
streams originating at the main anchor, one vertical to the the subjects by an experienced trainer to maintain the range
ground and the other aligned with the TRX straps. of movement, correct body position, and hand distance dur-
The subjects performed dynamic warm-up exercises of the ing the data collection. A trial was discarded and repeated if
upper and lower limbs muscles for 10 minutes before the participants were unable to perform the exercise with the
trials. The subjects were asked to grip the TRX handles set at correct technique.
Instrumentation
A TRX Suspension device (TRX
Suspension Trainer; Fitness Any-
TABLE 2. Percentage changes of loading on the TRX straps and the force where, LLC, San Francisco, CA,
platform for the transitions between the different angles. USA) was used for the suspen-
sion push-up exercises. The
TRX straps (%) Force platform (%)
TRX Suspension Trainer, was
Different of TRX Elbow Elbow Elbow Elbow anchored to the ceiling accord-
angles flexion extension flexion extension ing to the manufacture’s manual
(6). The height for the TRX han-
15–08 15 43 235 230 dles was set at 60 cm (strap mid
30–08 53 127 250 245
45–08 103 317 259 252 length) from the ground level.
To record the load on the
TRX straps, load cells (Cas Coop,
Seol, Korea) were fitted between

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TRX Suspension Push-Up

Figure 3. The load on TRX straps and force platform at elbow flexion.

the cam-buckles on both sides (Figure 1). Data were collected Statistical Analyses
(sampling rate 100 Hz) by the specific indicator (PC30A Data The recorded load data from the load cells integrated in the
Logger; Kyowa Inc., Korea) and its original software (PCD 30; TRX device were analyzed separately for the extension and
Kyowa Inc.). flexion phases. Subjects were instructed to do 5 push-ups at
The test was conducted with the subjects’ feet placed on each angle. Maximum force values reached in flexion and
the force platform (sampling rate 100 Hz, MatScan System) extension phases during the TRX push-up were used in this
while gripping the TRX handles (MatScan System; Tekscan, study.
Inc., Boston, MA, USA). The data were recorded by original The first and fifth repetitions were excluded from data
software for MatScan System. Calibration of the system was analyses. Only the mean of the second, third, and fourth
performed according to the manufacturer’s recommenda- values were used. The values obtained from the load cells in
tions in the manual. the TRX straps were classified as loads borne by the TRX
TRX push-up trials were conducted at 4 angles (45, 30, straps and those obtained from the force platform as loads
15 and 08; Figure 2). Body positions and movements were borne by the force platform.
visually monitored and recorded by a 30 fps camera The recorded loads were normalized by body weight
(TRV900E; Sony). (loadnorm = load/body weight 3 100). Using this normalized

Figure 4. The load on TRX straps and force platform at elbow extension.

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TABLE 3. Load distribution on TRX straps and the force platform at 4 different angles expressed as percentage of the
total load.

Loads on the straps (%) Loads on the force platform (%)

TRX Right (dominant Left (nondominant Total, Right (foot) Left (foot) Total,
angles Elbow positions hand), mean hand), mean mean mean mean mean

458 Elbow flexion 17.3 17.4 34.7 31.3 34 65.3


Elbow extension 6.8 6.6 13.4 42.9 43.7 86.6
308 Elbow flexion 23 22.8 45.8 27.4 26.8 54.2
Elbow extension 12 11.7 23.7 38.5 37.8 76.3
158 Elbow flexion 29.7 29.5 59.2 21 19.8 40.8
Elbow extension 18.3 18.8 37.1 32.1 30.7 62.8
08 Elbow flexion 35.3 36.4 71.7 12.4 15.9 28.3
Elbow extension 26.5 27.7 54.2 22.1 23.7 45.8

loads, the distribution on the straps and on the force plat- straps and the force platform are similar. As the angle in-
form was expressed as percentages of the total load. creases, the load on the TRX dramatically decreases and the
One-way analyses of variance with Scheffé and Dunnett C load on the force platform dramatically increases (Figure 4).
post hoc procedures were used to compare the difference As can be seen from Table 3, the distribution of the load
between measurements of each angle (45, 30, 15, and 08). on the dominant and nondominant arms was alike. This
Levene homogeneity of variance test performed to decide similarity could also be observed on the force platform.
the equality of variances. According to homogeneity test
results, Tukey and Dunnett C post hoc tests were performed. DISCUSSION
The significance level was set at 0.05. In this study, it has been determined that with the increase of
the angle during the TRX push-up exercise, the load on the
RESULTS straps decreases. When the TRX angle is set at 08 and the
Force values differences, normalized to subjects’ body elbows were at extension, 50.4% of the body weight was
weights and angles are shown in Table 1. When loads at recorded from the TRX straps, and when the elbows were
the varying TRX angles were compared, the differences at flexion, 75.3% of the body weight was on straps. This
between the loads were significant both for the flexion and study also shows that with varying angles, the load on the
extension phases, and this was valid for the TRX straps as TRX straps are similar for both left and right. Therefore, the
well as for the force platform values (p = 0.000). Post hoc subject’s dominant and nondominant arms pose no differ-
comparisons revealed that between all angles there were ence in the workload, which means the exercise is
significant differences (p # 0.05). The difference between symmetrical.
the dominant and nondominant arms was not significant During the standard push-up exercise (SPU), the loading
(p . 0.05). with the elbows in flexion was reported to be 75% of the
With decreasing angle, the loading on the TRX steadily bodyweight, whereas in extension it was 64–69% of the body
increased while the loads on the force platform steadily weight (11,18,22).
decreased. On the TRX straps, the transition from 45 to In the above-mentioned studies, the values calculated
08 resulted in more than a twofold increase of loading for the when the elbows at flexion were similar to the ones that
flexion and in more than a fourfold increase for the extension were calculated with TRX angle at 08 in this study (the
phase. In comparison, the decrease of loading on the force closest position the SPU). During the elbows extension at
platform was comparable for the flexion but less pronounced SPU (11,13,18,22), the values calculated were 27–37% higher
for the extension phase. The transition from 45 to compared with this study. The TRX handles being 60 cm
08 decreased ground reaction forces to less than half for both higher from the ground and the elbows in extension causes
phases (Table 2). the upper body to be higher from the ground than in the
When the elbow is in flexion, with the increase in the position during the SPU. This position causes the load to be
TRX angle, the load on the TRX straps decreases as the load transferred to the lower extremities.
on the force platform increases (Figure 3). And the measure- The hand-elevated exercise that Ebben et al. (11) used
ments with the elbow extension, at 08 the load on the TRX with the 61-cm box is similar to the exercise used in this

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TRX Suspension Push-Up

study. Ebben et al. (11) showed that for this position where position. Information from the hands on the local distribu-
the elbows were in extension, the subject worked with 41% tion of force could also be gathered, using gloves with force
of the body weight. In this study for the same height, the sensors. Different heights and angles of the TRX straps can
load was found to be 23% higher than the load mentioned in also be evaluated.
the study of Ebben et al (11). This could be due to the
unstable surface of TRX push-up and the difference in the PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
cadence in the study of Ebben et al. (12) (2 seconds up and 2 The loads on the TRX straps increase by decreasing the
seconds down). This is also compatible with the argument of TRX push-up application angle (45–08). Throughout all
Mier et al. (18), which is, “the difference in cadence changes angles, the applied load is higher during the flexion phase
the relative load”. Another source for the difference might be than the extension. During the TRX push-up exercise, the
that Ebben et al. (11) collected the data on the average of lowest load applied to the arms and the straps of the TRX
only 2 push-ups. Gender differences might also be the cause is at the 458 extension position. For beginners with TRX
of the dissimilarities in the study of Ebben et al. (11). push-up exercises, it would be advisable to start with iso-
Melrose and Dawes (17) used the angle between the subject metric exercises at elbows extended position at 45 and 308
and the floor instead of TRX’s anchor connection point as in instead of TRX push-ups including flexion and extension at
our study. The above-mentioned study, even with the differ- 458. TRX push-ups including flexion and extension at 45–
ences in the design, has the closest set-up to our study. In the 308 can be applied gradually after this phase. There was
study from Melrose and Dawes (17), the increase in the load more than fourfold increase in the loading on the upper
on the TRX straps as the angle of the subject decreases from extremities when the TRX angle was changed from 45 to
the floor is similar to our study. However, because of the 08. Rapid transition from the angle of low-intensity training
method of angle measurement difference from our study, at 45–08 without any gradual transition at 30–158, will result
there has not been a comparison for all the angles. in increased load on the fourfold upper limbs. It is recom-
The loads on the TRX straps increased both in the mended to plan the trainings with a gradual increase to
extension and flexion phases as the TRX angle decreased. prevent any injuries. Following this, the TRX angle can
The highest load was recorded when the angle was at 08 in be reduced to facilitate progression of training intensity.
flexion phase and the lowest was recorded when the angle The TRX angle at 08 provides the most challenging upper
was at 458 in extension phase. Both in the flexion and exten- extremities push-up exercise, particularly as the arms move
sion phase, decreases in TRX angle result in a linear reduction from extension to flexion.
of the load on the force platform (Figures 3 and 4). As the
subject reaches the erect position with the TRX at 458, most ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
of the body weight is recorded in the force platform. When I thank the employees of Marmara University Medical
the TRX angle was set at 08 and elbows extended, the load on Faculty Prosthetic and Orthotic Laboratory and Marmara
the TRX straps and that exerted by the feet on the force University Center of Sports Sciences and Athletic Health,
platform were nearly equal. However; when the elbows were Dr. Yasar Tatar, Dr. Nusret Ramazanoglu, Dr. Semih Yilmaz
in flexion and at TRX angle 08, the load on the straps for their contributions.
increased and the load on the force platform decreased. It is
stated in the TRX manual that TRX push-ups are harder to REFERENCES
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