Reliability Analysis of Traditional and Ballistic Bench Press Exercises at Different Loads

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine test–retest reliability for peak barbell velocity (Vpeak) during the bench press (BP) and bench press throw (BPT) exercises for loads corresponding to 20–70% of one-repetition maximum (1RM). Thirty physically active collegiate men conducted four evaluations after a preliminary BP 1RM determination (1RM·bw-1 = 1.02 ± 0.16 kg·kg-1). In counterbalanced order, participants performed two sessions of the BP in one week and two sessions of the BPT in another week. Recovery time between sessions within the same week was 48 hours and recovery time between sessions of different weeks was 120 hours. On each day of evaluation the individual load-velocity relationship at each tenth percentile (20–70% of 1RM) in a Smith machine for the BP or BPT was determined. Participants performed three attempts per load, but only the best repetition (highest Vpeak), registered by a linear position transducer, was analysed. The BPT resulted in a significantly lower coefficient of variation (CV) for the whole load–velocity relationship, compared to the BP (2.48% vs. 3.22%; p = 0.040). Test–retest intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) ranged from r = 0.94–0.85 for the BPT and r = 0.91–0.71 for the BP (p < 0.001). The reduction in the biological within-subject variation in BPT exercise could be promoted by the braking phase that obligatorily occurs during a BP executed with light or moderate loads. Therefore, we recommend the BPT exercise for a most accurate assessment of upper-body velocity.

A Simple Method for Assessing Upper-Limb Force–Velocity Profile in Bench Press

“…Finally, being able to record valid and reliable force and velocity measurements, as it has been showed above, was a sine qua non condition to estimate valid and reliable F-v relationship and its derived mechanical parameters (i.e., F0, v0, F-vslope and Pmax). In agreement with the accelerometer method, the relation between force and velocity was well described by a negative linear relationship (Figure 3), as it was previously shown in the literature for classical bench press 6,8 and bench throw 1,8 . The validity of the computation method to measure the F-v relationship was supported by the strong correlations of the F-vslope (r²=0.99, p<0.001), F0 (r²=0.93, p<0.001), v0 (r²=0.59, p<0.05), and Pmax (r²=0.87, p<0.001; all not different from unity) ( Figure 3) determined by the two methods.…”

“…Bench press exercise is often used as a simple test to evaluate the upper limb force, velocity and power output [1][2][3] . These muscular parameters are usually determined using a force platform 4,5 or kinematic systems, such as optical encoders 6,7 or linear transducers 1,[8][9][10] . Although these methods are considered as 'gold standards' for measuring force, power, and velocity 11 , they require a methodological expertise and are costly.…”

The addition of very light loads into the routine testing of the bench press increases the reliability of the force–velocity relationship

“…Note that the accuracy in the determination of the F–V relationship seems to be enhanced when the experimental points are located close to the axis intercepts ( Pérez-Castilla et al, 2018 ). However, a lower reliability for the 6-loads free method could also be expected since previous studies have reported that velocity outputs are obtained with a lower reliability during the BP compared to the BPT exercise ( García-Ramos et al, 2015 ). In addition, the reliability of the 6-loads free method could also be deteriorated because the measurement accuracy of linear position transducers could be compromised during free-weight exercises that include horizontal movements of the barbell compared to the exercises performed in a Smith machine.…”

Acute Caffeine Intake Enhances Mean Power Output and Bar Velocity during the Bench Press Throw in Athletes Habituated to Caffeine

“…Given the widespread use of the BPT exercise as a mean of developing power output in the upper limbs [44,45] and the widespread use of CAF in sport, it would be interesting to investigate whether acute CAF intake affects power output and bar velocity in athletes habituated to CAF. For this reason, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the acute intake of 3 and 6 mg/kg/b.m.…”