Introduction
When it comes to bodyweight exercises, dips and push-ups are two of the most common movements. Both are effective for targeting the chest, shoulders, and triceps, but many find dips to be significantly more challenging than push-ups. In this blog post, we’ll explore why that is and discuss how to make dips easier.
Why Are Dips Harder Than Push-Ups?
When it comes to dips, the main contributing factor to their difficulty is the amount of weight that is placed on the arms. With dips, your body is suspended and the arms are forced to support your bodyweight. With a push-up, however, your body is supported by the floor and the arms are only responsible for a fraction of the load. That makes dips significantly more challenging than push-ups.
Another factor that contributes to the difficulty of dips is the angle of the arms. When doing a dip, your arms are placed in a relatively straight line, which makes it harder to execute the movement. With push-ups, the arms are bent at a 90-degree angle, providing more stability and making it easier to complete the exercise.
Finally, dips require more balance and coordination than push-ups. With push-ups, you don’t need to worry about your body swaying from side to side, but with dips, you need to be constantly aware of your position to ensure you don’t lose your balance.
How to Make Dips Easier
If dips seem too difficult for you, there are a few ways you can make them easier. The first is to perform the exercise with your feet on the ground. By placing your feet on the ground, you can reduce the amount of weight placed on your arms, making the exercise easier to complete.
You can also reduce the range of motion by performing the exercise on a bench or chair. Doing the exercise on a lower surface will reduce the amount of weight you need to support, making the exercise easier to perform.
Finally, you can use a dip belt or resistance bands to reduce the amount of weight placed on your arms. Attaching a dip belt or resistance bands to the top of the dip bar will allow you to perform the exercise with less weight, making it easier to complete.
Conclusion
Dips are a great exercise for targeting the chest, shoulders, and triceps, but many find them too difficult to perform. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can make dips easier, such as using a dip belt or resistance bands, placing your feet on the ground, and reducing the range of motion. With these strategies, you can make dips a more achievable exercise and start to see the results you want.