Warming up

[Psaletta]

Would push ups be a good warm up before a chest work out? I normally just bench 50-60 pounds for 10-12 reps a few times before I start but never really feel warmed up enough..

[liftology]

I usually do pushups (elevated) as a burn out at the end of my workout. You can try 1 set of light pec deck or go a little heavier on the bench for a warm up, like 40% of your working sets. Always stretch before hand though, it gets the blood flowing and the muscle fibres ready

[Fred40]

I always start out with just the bar. Do two sets of slow reps. Then I throw on some light weight (around 40-50% of my 1RM) and do one set, add weight and do one set but fewer reps, add weight and do one set of 2-3 reps......do my regular workout weight for 3 sets.

But I'm old and want to avoid an injury.

[red_hulk]

Would push ups be a good warm up before a chest work out? I normally just bench 50-60 pounds for 10-12 reps a few times before I start but never really feel warmed up enough..

I usually do the same thing before any muscle group I just do a lot of reps of light weight to warm up and I do it with a larger ROM to help stretch before the actual lift

[stpete]

Absolutely! I do normal stretching(not too much though), rotator exercise using 10lb. plates. Then, say on the bench using the bar and stretching the chest by starting w/the bar mid chest and slowly working it toward my neck and staying there for 10-15 seconds. and it just makes me feel better by stretching.

[Far from massive]

Agreed with what has been posted, for me doing a warmup like you said with 40-50 and 10 reps does nothing. What I do is some light cardio...bike or rowing machine for 5 minutes. Then I would do a bunch of range of motion excersizes working the shoulders in different planes of motion with very light 5-8 lb dumbells. Then benches with a dumbells that allow 30 sets without undue strain after doing 30 wait another minute and do 30 more. then on to a straight bar for another light set of 20 then work sets.

The shoulders are a very unique joint in that they are almost totally dependent on ligaments and muscles for all means of support so its vital to warm them fully by doing exersizes that will enrich these tissues with bloodflow...however also without enough wieght to damage them.

[951thompson]

Would push ups be a good warm up before a chest work out? I normally just bench 50-60 pounds for 10-12 reps a few times before I start but never really feel warmed up enough..

I like to warm up with a light set of say 50kg I rep it until I feel my chest burn, can take 20 to 30 reps. Once your chest burns you then know your chest is engaged in the exercise.
Then I do my lower reps, if I'm bulking I tend to do reps of 10, 8, 6, 4 til failure ;-)