This test forms part of the Navy Physical Readiness Test (PRT), performed by US Navy personnel every six months.

• purpose: Push-ups are used to assess the strength and endurance of the upper body muscle groups.
• equipment required: floor mat or flat ground, stopwatch
• procedure: The aim of this test is to perform as many push-ups in you can in one minute. The starting position is with your arms straight, elbows locked, body straight, hands placed slightly wider than shoulder-width apart with fingers pointing forward and both feet on the floor. From the starting position, on the command ‘go,’ start the push-up by bending your elbows and lowering your body until the shoulders drop below the level of the elbows, then return to the starting position. Pausing to rest is permitted only in the up (starting) position.

• scoring: The maximum number of correctly performed push ups is recorded.
• comments: For the push up to be counted, the body must remain rigid in a generally straight line, and move as a unit while performing each rep, and the technique as described must be adhered to. If you rest on the ground or raise either hand or foot from the ground, the test will be terminated.