Newbie here. How important are push-ups for shoulder/arm/back/core strength. I have a morning routine where I do several sets of 20, 30, 40, or 50 for between 150-300 a few days a week. Then swim 1000 yds or more later in the day.
It depends upon what you're looking for. For general strength and fitness, I am sure they are good. Can they help you swim faster? Possibly. Are they required for you to swim fast? No.
My take is that they can help but there are better exercises for swimmers that translate better into the pool. I don't do push ups for a number of reasons, the primary being the impact on my shoulders. I do planks for core exercise however. I think pushing exercises are good for balance in muscle groups but believe core and specific pulling exercises translate into the pool much better. Just my uneducated opinion.
It depends upon what you're looking for. For general strength and fitness, I am sure they are good. Can they help you swim faster? Possibly. Are they required for you to swim fast? No.
My take is that they can help but there are better exercises for swimmers that translate better into the pool. I don't do push ups for a number of reasons, the primary being the impact on my shoulders. I do planks for core exercise however. I think pushing exercises are good for balance in muscle groups but believe core and specific pulling exercises translate into the pool much better. Just my uneducated opinion.
