The push-up is one of the most accessible strength exercises you can perform. It requires no gym membership or expensive equipment, yet it can challenge the chest, shoulders, triceps and core while helping develop upper-body strength and muscular endurance. But there is an important difference between doing more push-ups and doing better push-ups. When fatigue sets in, it is easy to let the hips sag, shorten the range of motion, rush through repetitions or allow the elbows to move into an uncomfortable position simply to reach a higher number. That is why proper technique should come before chasing a personal record. A well-controlled push-up allows you to maintain better body alignment and consistently train through a useful range of motion. It also makes it easier to recognize when you need to modify the exercise or stop a set because your technique is breaking down.  This guide explains how to perform a push-up correctly, the most common mistakes to avoid, how to modify the exer...