Veronica, T-pups with 8# , that is some core strength, and a great way to work the shoulder stabilizers. And pull-ups too, I've been totally neglecting mine ... partly out of frustration that I've been stuck at 5 for the first set and 1-2 for a second "set" for like two years.

Maybe I need to start doing pull-ups similarly to this push-up plan - I bet I could do three sets of two and then a max out (of another one or two ) I hardly even watch TV, but every time DH has it on and one of those commercials for chin bars comes on, I start wanting one for home even though all my lazy self really needs to do is throw a rope over a joist in the garage.

Emily, yeah, pups can be hard on the rotator cuff, especially if you're doing them with a wide stance - are you doing them narrow, Pilates-style? You're right the bellies of the rotator cuff muscles are along the scapula, but they have their insertion on the head of the humerus - that's what allows them to rotate the arm, and it's why there's no bone-to-bone attachment in the shoulder socket. Here's the best illustration of that that I've seen. The shoulder is a wacky joint, really, crazier than the knee even - be careful with it.

Kim, way to go! And you are not the only one doing knee pups. Completing the program with ANY type of pups is a real accomplishment.

PedalWench, holding dumbbells is probably the simplest way to keep your wrists straight - knuckle pups are fine if they don't hurt your knuckles - but check it out with your PT. If it was me I don't think I'd do any pups until I was out of the brace. Any way you do them you still have to stabilize the forearms, and that means the tendons are going to be acting on your wrist bones. Knuckle pups actually seem to work the forearms harder than with your hands flat, I think. And with pull-ups, you're using the forearm muscles for grip... plus your weight is going to want to stretch the wrist joints... I'd definitely check it out. Might be a good time to start practicing those one-handed pups on the wall.

Michele, maybe you might try backing off to week 4 before you try to go forward again. That's worked for several of us. And yeah... three times a week is pretty much the minimum to make much progress at anything.