In the pushing up phase of a push-up, what is the antagonist muscle involved?

In the context of a push-up, the antagonist muscle plays an important role in maintaining balance and stability during the movement. The correct answer identifies the role of the muscles involved rather than labeling a specific muscle as the antagonist.

During the pushing up phase of a push-up, the primary mover (agonist) is the pectoralis major, which is responsible for the movement. The antagonist muscle is usually the one that opposes the movement generated by the agonist. In this case, while the pectoralis major contracts to push the body upward, the latissimus dorsi helps to control and stabilize the movement by providing opposing tension.

In a push-up, the antagonist is generally considered to be the muscle that lengthens while the pectoralis major shortens to perform the push. The latissimus dorsi, although it plays a stabilizing role, does not contract concentrically in opposition but assists in control throughout the motion.

Understanding that the antagonist muscle works in relation to the movement performed helps clarify the overall dynamics of muscle action in fitness exercises like the push-up. This highlights the concept of coordinated muscular interactions rather than simply identifying individual muscles as antagonists or agonists in isolation.