In addition to your pectoral muscles, pushups work your upper body so they are worth adding to your routine, especially if your exercise is primarily lower body (think treadmill). Modified push-ups, such as with knees bent or on an incline, are also effective for building pectoral muscles.

Which exercise primarily targets the pectoralis?

Bench Press

If you have access to a gym, swap out your push-ups for the barbell bench press. According to research from 2012 sponsored by the American Council on Exercise (ACE), this exercise resulted in the most muscle activation in the pectoralis major.

What are 3 exercises for the pectorals?

The pec minor has one major function, which is to stabilize the scapula. The most popular exercises to add resistance to these basic movements include the bench press, dumbbell press, dumbbell fly, cable crossover, and the push-up. But they're by no means the only options.