Medicine-Ball Close-Grip Push-Up

1. Place a medicine ball on the floor and position yourself in a high plank position with your feet shoulder-width apart.

2. Place both hands on the medicine ball, ensuring that your hands are close together so your thumbs and fingers can form a diamond shape. This close grip stance will challenge your triceps and chest muscles more than a standard push-up.

3. With your arms straight, back flat, and core engaged, maintain a neutral neck position by looking slightly ahead of the ball.

4. Lower your body towards the medicine ball by bending your elbows until your chest nearly touches the ball. Keep your elbows close to your body to maximize triceps engagement.

5. Push through your hands to extend your elbows and return to the starting high plank position. That is one repetition.

6. Perform the exercise for the desired number of repetitions and sets, maintaining proper form throughout the exercise.

- Make sure to keep your movements controlled to maintain balance on the medicine ball.

- To prevent lower back sagging, engage your core muscles throughout the movement.

- Do not lock out your elbows completely at the top of the movement; keep slight tension in your triceps and pectorals.

- If the exercise is too difficult with the medicine ball, you can modify it by performing the push-up with a close grip on the floor until you build enough strength to use the medicine ball.

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