Question about Tricep Dips...

[Striving4Health]

I've wondered about this for a long time, and I can't think of a better group of people to ask. What percentage of your body weight are you lifting during tricep dips?

My thanks, as always, goes to you,
Connie

 

[materialsgirl]

I think it probably depends on several factors - namely, the position of your legs/feet (the further out from the step they are, the harder the exercise is), and the distribution of your body weight. I'm not sure it's psossible to pin a single number on it. Maybe someone else can provide a range for us?

 

[kathryn]

We need a mathematician or a scientist here!

 

[Striving4Health]

You're right, Emily. I'm not looking for an exact percentage- more like a range just to get a very general idea.

Youuu, whooo- Catheite mathematicians, where are you??

Connie

 

[materialsgirl]

What you need is a physicist. I'm an engineer and took a lot of physics classes in school... maybe that counts for something, but probably not.

BUT, I have an idea of how we could measure this! Just stick your bathroom scale under your hands when doing the tricep dips and have someone read the dial. Actually, you shouldn't even have to DO a tricep dip - just get in the position like you're about to do one. The downward force on the scale is equivalent to the upward force you must exert to lift yourself up. (We all remember Newton's Third Law, right? For every action, there is an EQUAL and OPPOSITE reaction.) So let's all go home tonight and give it a try. Just divide the scale number by your actual weight, multiply by 100 and voila, you have the percentage!

 

[Striving4Health]

Emily!!! That is an absolutely brilliant! All those physics classes paid off. hehe Thank you!

I'm going to do this tonight and report in later....

Connie

 

[materialsgirl]

I'll do it too! You could also try seeing how the results differ when you change your foot placement. This will be our own clinical Cathe study!

We need a larger sample population - who else wants to participate in our experiment???

 

[Striving4Health]

Well, I tried to do this but my digital scale wouldn't cooperate. Grrrr!! However, my roommate was able to get the scale to read. I think it's about hand placement- my scale is a big sensitive. Based on the readings we got with foot placement pretty far out- 65% of his body weight was being lifted in a tricep dip position. Whoa!! that's alot! I'm going to try this at my sister's house with her dial scale..but that will take a few days.

Anyone else give this a try???

Connie