Push Ups: Perfect Workout?

I thought the perfect exercise was always swimming (still number 1 in my book!) but this latest article talks about the virtues of the "perfect push-up" and why it's probably one of the most cost-efficient exercises in the book. It's said that:

"One of the reasons the push-up has endured so long is it's cheap, it's easy, it doesn't require any equipment, it can work multiple parts of the body at the same time -- and pretty much everyone, from beginners to athletes, can derive benefits," says personal trainer Jonathan Ross, a spokesman for the American Council on Exercise (ACE)."

I used to watch the Simpsons and every time Homer said "D'oh!" I'd do 5 pushups. Needless to say, there were some episodes that had me really sore the next day.

TC