Ask AI: Why are diamond push-ups harder?

Diamond push-ups are harder than regular push-ups for several reasons: 1. Reduced base of support: In a diamond push-up, you bring your hands close together under your chest, forming a diamond shape with your index fingers and thumbs. This narrower hand placement reduces your base of support, which means you must engage your core muscles more to maintain your balance and stability during the movement. 2. Increased tricep activation: Diamond push-ups target your triceps more than regular push-ups because of the hand position. Your triceps have to work harder to extend your elbow, making it a more difficult exercise for this muscle group. 3. Greater range of motion: In a diamond push-up, you experience an increased range of motion as you lower your chest to the ground, allowing for more muscle activation in the chest or pectoral muscles. This greater range of motion requires more effort from your chest, triceps, and shoulder muscles. 4. Smaller, less dominant muscles engaged: Traditional push-ups often rely on the more dominant muscles like chest and shoulders, which could potentially be stronger. With diamond pushups, the emphasis on triceps may bring into play less dominant, smaller muscles, increasing the perceived difficulty. To perform diamond push-ups correctly, ensure you maintain proper form with a straight body from head to heels, engage your core, keep your elbows close to your body, and breathe properly. As you gain strength, the difficulty of diamond push-ups may begin to decrease.