Push-ups are a classic bodyweight exercise that target the pectoral muscles, triceps, and anterior deltoids, with the core also engaged for stability. Doing 60 push-ups a day can be an excellent way to maintain general upper body strength and endurance. However, when it comes to building significant muscle mass, there are a few things to consider.
First, muscle growth, or hypertrophy, is best stimulated when muscles are exposed to a variety of resistances and rep ranges. Simply sticking to one number, like 60 push-ups daily, may not provide the progressive overload necessary for continual muscle growth. As your body gets used to this volume and intensity, the push-ups might become less challenging and the stimulus for muscle growth may decrease.
Second, the number of repetitions you can perform in a set influences the type of muscle adaptation. High repetitions, like 60, generally build muscular endurance more than muscular size. For hypertrophy, it’s often recommended to work in a range where you can perform 6-12 repetitions to failure. If you can easily do 60 push-ups, the resistance might be too low to fall within this hypertrophic range.
Lastly, while push-ups target several muscles, they might not be sufficient for comprehensive upper body development. Incorporating other exercises that target muscles not emphasized by push-ups, like the latissimus dorsi, rhomboids, or biceps, would be beneficial for balanced muscle growth.
While doing 60 push-ups a day can contribute to muscle endurance and some level of hypertrophy, it might not be enough for significant muscle building, especially as your body adapts. If building muscle is your primary goal, it would be wise to incorporate a variety of resistance exercises, adjust the resistance and rep ranges periodically, and ensure progressive overload in your training.