Feet-Elevated Close-Grip Push-Up exercise
A push-up with feet raised and hands close together to emphasize triceps and upper chest engagement.
Updated By PumpPal
How to perform Feet-Elevated Close-Grip Push-Up
- Elevate your feet on a stable surface behind you.
- Place your hands close together, beneath your chest.
- Keep your body straight from head to heels.
- Lower your chest towards your hands, keeping elbows close to your sides.
- Pause at the bottom, then press back up.
- Repeat for the desired reps.
What is Feet-Elevated Close-Grip Push-Up?
The feet-elevated close-grip push-up combines a decline body angle with a narrower hand position. Elevating the feet shifts more load forward, while keeping the hands near shoulder width and the elbows close increases the triceps demand.
What muscles does Feet-Elevated Close-Grip Push-Up work?
The triceps, upper chest, and front deltoids perform the press. The serratus anterior, rotator cuff, upper back, abdominal wall, glutes, quadriceps, forearms, wrists, and hands stabilize the elevated plank.
Feet-Elevated Close-Grip Push-Up form cues and common mistakes
- Use a stable low platform and set the hands just inside shoulder width rather than forcing them into a tight diamond.
- Brace the trunk and keep the head, ribs, hips, and feet in one straight line.
- Lower the chest toward the hands while the elbows track close to the torso without pressing painfully against it.
- Press through the whole hand and keep the wrists stacked instead of collapsing inward.
- Lower the foot height or return to floor close-grip push-ups if full range or joint comfort is lost.
How to add Feet-Elevated Close-Grip Push-Up to a workout
Use this variation as a challenging triceps-focused press. Start with 3 to 4 sets of 5 to 12 controlled repetitions, leaving 1 to 3 in reserve. Build floor close-grip repetitions before increasing the elevation.
Frequently asked questions
What muscles do feet-elevated close-grip push-ups work?
They emphasize the triceps, upper chest, and front shoulders while the serratus anterior, upper back, rotator cuff, core, glutes, legs, forearms, and hands stabilize the body.
How close should my hands be?
Place them just inside shoulder width or under the chest while keeping the wrists comfortable. A narrow position does not require the thumbs and fingers to form a tight diamond.
How can I make this push-up easier?
Lower the foot platform, use a standard floor close-grip push-up, or shorten the range temporarily. Progress only when the elbows, wrists, and plank remain controlled.
Use controlled movement and an appropriate variation for your current ability. Stop if an exercise causes sharp pain, and seek qualified guidance when needed.