Reading the push-up load percentages
The percentages attached to push-up variations describe roughly how much of body weight the arms support in each position, not an exact constant. A knee push-up shifts the pivot to the knees and shortens the lever, so the hands carry a smaller share of body weight, often estimated around half. A standard push-up from the toes loads the hands more, commonly estimated near two thirds.
Raising the feet on a decline tilts more weight toward the hands, and leaning the shoulders forward of the wrists, as in a planche lean, pushes the load higher still, into the region often cited around 85 percent. These figures vary with limb proportions and exact body angle, so treat them as ranges that show direction, not precise readings for an individual.
Fulcrum mechanics behind the numbers
Each variation is a lever where the toes or knees act as the pivot and the hands provide the supporting force. As the center of mass moves farther from the hands or as the body angle changes, the torque the arms must counter rises, which is what the increasing percentages capture.
This is general educational mechanics, not medical advice. The planche lean in particular loads the wrists and shoulders heavily; build up gradually and consult a qualified professional if you have wrist or shoulder discomfort.