How to Do Handstand Push-Ups: Muscles Worked & Proper Form

a gif showing how to perform the handstand pushup with proper form

Muscles Worked in Handstand Push-Ups

muscles worked in the Handstand Push-Ups

Primary muscles worked:

Secondary muscles worked:

How to Do Handstand Push-Ups

  1. Place your hands shoulder-width apart on the floor, with fingers pointing forward.
  2. Kick up into a handstand position against a wall. To increase the stability, you could let your heels lightly rest on the wall.
  3. Embrace your core and maintain a stable body position throughout the movement.
  4. Bend your elbows and lower your head in a controlled manner toward the ground.
  5. Press back up by extending your elbows until you return to the starting position.
  6. Repeat for reps.

Commentary

The handstand push-up is an advanced bodyweight exercise that targets the shoulders, triceps, and core. It requires both strength and balance, making it excellent for developing upper body stability and control.

Alternative Variation of the Handstand Push-Up: Kipping

The handstand push-up is an advanced exercise, and could be a bit tricky to master. If you want to make the exercise a bit easier, you can use momentum from your legs to help push yourself up. This is often referred to as a Kipping Handstand Push-Up.

a gif showing how to do a kipping handstand pushup

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Text and graphics from the StrengthLog app.