The most common mistakes in a Push Up Plus often involve:

1. Sagging Hips: This indicates a lack of core engagement. Fix: Actively squeeze your glutes and brace your abs as if preparing for a punch.
2. Bending Elbows: The 'plus' portion is a pure scapular movement. Fix: Keep your arms completely straight and focus on pushing your upper back towards the ceiling.
3. No Full Protraction: Not pushing high enough through the shoulder blades. Fix: Think about pushing your hands through the floor to maximize the serratus anterior engagement.
4. Shrugging Shoulders: Allowing the shoulders to creep up towards your ears. Fix: Keep your shoulders depressed and away from your ears, engaging your lats.

You can tell if your Push Up Plus form is correct by checking several points:

• Body Alignment: You should maintain a straight line from your head, through your shoulders and hips, down to your heels.
• Arm Position: Your arms should remain locked straight throughout the 'plus' phase.
• Scapular Movement: You should feel your shoulder blades glide apart as you push up, and come together as you lower.
• Targeted Sensation: You should primarily feel the work in the muscles along the sides of your rib cage (serratus anterior) and your core, rather than primarily in your triceps or lower back.

Poor form during the Push Up Plus can lead to several injuries:

• Shoulder Impingement: Failing to activate the serratus anterior properly can lead to a lack of upward rotation of the scapula, contributing to shoulder impingement syndrome.
• Lower Back Pain: A sagging lower back puts undue stress on the lumbar spine.
• Wrist Strain: Improper hand positioning or a collapsed core can shift too much weight onto the wrists.
• Elbow Strain: Bending the elbows during the 'plus' can put unnecessary stress on the elbow joints, diverting tension from the intended muscles.

For the Push Up Plus, which is a bodyweight exercise, 'reducing weight' typically means modifying the leverage or intensity. Yes, you absolutely should reduce the difficulty to improve form if you're struggling. This could involve:

• Performing it on your knees: This reduces the bodyweight load and allows you to focus purely on the scapular movement.
• Doing it against a wall or an elevated surface: This further decreases the resistance and makes it easier to isolate the serratus anterior. Prioritizing perfect execution over the full bodyweight version will yield better long-term results for shoulder health and strength.

To improve your Push Up Plus form at home, consider these practical tips:

• Video Yourself: Use your phone to record your exercise from the side. This allows you to visually identify any sagging hips, bent elbows, or lack of scapular protraction.
• Practice Wall or Knee Push Up Plus: Start with easier variations where you can master the scapular movement without the full bodyweight challenge. Focus on feeling the muscles along your rib cage.
• Incorporate Plank Variations: Strengthen your core with planks, side planks, and bird-dog exercises to build the stability needed for a solid Push Up Plus.
• Slow and Controlled Reps: Perform the exercise very slowly, focusing on each phase of the movement. This helps build muscle awareness and control.