Push up challenge for women! #pushupchallenge #womensfitness #womenover40 #workoutsforwomen

The 11 push-up challenge for women is getting a lot of traction on social media right now, and you know I have thoughts 🧐. While yes, we need some benchmarks and standardized numbers in health care, they have to be taken with a huge dose of nuance and individualism! Saying someone isn’t healthy because they can’t do 11 push-ups as a blanket statement for all women isn’t super responsible or accurate. As a physical therapist, I have never assessed someone’s function by their ability to do 11 push-ups on their toes. Grip strength? Yes. Overhead reach? Yes. Getting on and off the floor? Yes. Push-ups on toes? Not really. Can it be part of the puzzle? Sure, but it’s not the end all be all. I personally haven’t been able to do 11 push ups on my toes in eighteen months because of a double mastectomy, and I have many clients who have the same experience due to such things as arthritis or rotator cuff issues. But do I think I’ve been healthy during that time and working on my strength in other ways? YES! Can you still be healthy and strong even with certain chronic pain or biomechanical changes? ALSO YES!!! When challenges like these come up, have fun with them if you want. But please make sure you are not judging yourself or others just because of a social media challenge. Keep lifting your weights, managing your stress, going for walks in the sun and finding ways to feel safe and functional in your body, and see a health care professional for any bigger concerns you want addressed. Carry on ❤️.